Bangladesh is entering its dry season with a sharp rise in air pollution. Dhaka and Chattogram both recorded an AQI of 163 on October 26, putting them in the unhealthy category. Narayanganj hit 176 and Mymensingh reached 184, while Rajshahi sat at 132. The Department of Environment says brick kilns, dry dust, and winds from the north are the main drivers. The numbers are far above WHO guidelines. Dhaka's annual average PM2.5 concentration has been more than 13 times the recommended level of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. The DoE publishes daily AQI readings from 31 monitoring stations, but the practical question is whether those readings lead to enforcement, such as kiln upgrades or traffic restrictions, before the season gets worse.
