Every breath in Dhaka comes with an invisible cost. Home to more than 2 crore people, the capital is consistently ranked among the world’s most polluted cities. From hazy mornings to dust-choked afternoons, the city’s worsening air quality has turned something as basic as breathing into a daily struggle.
Health professionals link the recent surge in respiratory illnesses directly to the polluted air. Long-term exposure can trigger chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. It is also responsible for the alarming rise of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and allergic rhinitis in our country. Children and the elderly remain the most vulnerable, while outdoor workers face constant exposure. Even young adults are no longer safe.
A 55-year-old businessman, Mr Karim, said, “I’ve had COPD for years, but lately it’s gotten much worse. I went to Bangkok for treatment, and the doctors there told me my condition had reached an extreme level. They asked about my lifestyle, my home, my habits; everything seemed fine, except for one thing: the air quality in Dhaka. The doctor even advised me to keep an air purifier in my bedroom if I wanted to slow down the damage.”
Bangladesh recently ranked as the second most air-polluted country in the world, according to the 2024 Air Quality Index (AQI). Dhaka’s air frequently falls into the ‘unhealthy’ or ‘hazardous’ range. The problem peaks in winter when brick kilns operate at full scale and dust levels spike. But in truth, there is no ‘clean’ season anymore. The city’s air stays polluted throughout the year.
“I have always been jogging in the morning,” said Nusrat, a 20-year-old university student. “Recently, the morning air has been feeling heavy and hazy, even outside winter. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but now I know it’s pollution. I don’t even like jogging in the morning anymore. It feels like running through toxic air.”
The culprits are all well-known: thousands of ageing vehicles, uncontrolled construction, industrial discharge, overpopulation, and thousands of brick kilns operating on the city’s outskirts. Not to mention the sheer lack of greenery inside the city. The combined result is a place where lungs are constantly under assault.
Experts warn that this toxic environment is not merely inconvenient; it is also life-threatening. According to a 2025 study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), air pollution causes an estimated 102,456 premature deaths annually in Bangladesh.
Another university student, Atika, takes drastic precautions before leaving the house. “I never leave home without a mask anymore,” she explained. “People used to look at me strangely, but now they understand. Without it, I literally can’t breathe properly on these dusty streets.”
The fine particulate matter (PM2.5) found in Dhaka’s air penetrates deep into the lungs, damaging tissues and weakening immunity. Over time, these particles can also enter the bloodstream, leading to hypertension, heart attacks and strokes.
Prolonged exposure may also raise the risk of diabetes, affect fertility, and harm foetal development. Pregnant women are more likely to experience premature births or give birth to low-weight babies. Mental health specialists are beginning to connect chronic exposure to anxiety, sleep disturbances, and cognitive decline.
The best personal defence lies in awareness and prevention. Air purifiers, N95 masks, indoor plants, and hydration help reduce the toxin load. But these are temporary fixes. Individual strategies cannot substitute for systemic change. Public health must take priority in every urban policy decision.
Without decisive action, residents will continue to breathe toxins day after day. Cleaner public transport, stricter regulation of brick kilns, dust control in construction, and urban greening initiatives are urgently needed. Every policy and every citizen must play a role in reclaiming the air we all share.
The question is no longer whether air pollution will harm health. It already has. The real question is how long policymakers will let short-term development overshadow long-term human well-being.
For Nusrat, Atika, and millions of Dhaka residents, this is no longer a statistic. Every cough, every struggle to breathe is a daily reminder: the city is running out of clean air and with it, the promise of a healthy life.
