United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, witnessed moderate air quality on Monday morning, ranking 17th among cities with the worst air pollution worldwide. At 9:45 am, the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 90, indicating moderate air quality, according to the air quality monitoring platform IQAir. A moderate AQI indicates that air quality is generally acceptable. However, people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution may experience minor to moderate health effects if exposed for prolonged periods. Kampala, Uganda, topped the list of the world's most polluted cities with an AQI score of 159, followed by Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, at 158. Both cities recorded air quality classified as "unhealthy." The AQI is calculated based on the concentration of major air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone (O₃). According to the AQI scale, a score between 51 and 100 is considered moderate, while 101–150 is deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151–200 is unhealthy, 201–300 is very unhealthy, and 301 or above is classified as hazardous, posing serious health risks to the entire population. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating during the dry winter months and improving during the monsoon season due to rainfall and stronger winds. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka's air quality was in the moderate level on Sunday morning, ranking 21st among cities with the worst air pollution worldwide. At 9:20 am, the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 76, indicating moderate air quality, according to the AQI monitoring platform IQAir. A moderate AQI suggests that air quality is generally acceptable. However, people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution may experience minor to moderate health concerns if exposed for prolonged periods. Kampala, Uganda, topped the list of the world's most polluted cities with an AQI score of 198, followed by Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a score of 182. Both cities recorded air quality classified as unhealthy. The AQI is calculated based on the concentration of major air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone (O₃). According to the AQI scale, a score between 51 and 100 is considered moderate, while 101–150 is deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151–200 is unhealthy, 201–300 is very unhealthy, and 301 or above is classified as hazardous, posing serious health risks to the entire population. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating during the dry winter months and improving during the monsoon season due to rainfall and stronger winds. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

An unusually early and intense heat wave across Europe this year may have caused more than 10,000 additional deaths, according to early data collected from several countries. Researchers say deaths rose sharply in late June, when many parts of Europe experienced record-breaking temperatures. Scientists measure this using "excess mortality"—the number of deaths above what would normally be expected during a given period. Experts caution that the actual toll may be even higher because many heat-related deaths are never officially recorded as being caused by extreme heat. For example, a heart attack triggered by high temperatures may simply be listed as a heart attack on a death certificate. The figures raise fresh concerns as Europe enters the summer season. The continent has experienced several deadly heat waves in recent years, although the 2003 heat wave remains the worst on record, with around 70,000 deaths. Scientists say climate change, driven largely by the burning of fossil fuels, is making heat waves more frequent and more severe. Sharp rise in deaths during one week EuroMOMO, a European mortality monitoring network that collects data from two dozen countries, estimated 14,260 excess deaths from all causes during the week ending June 28. More than 12,000 of those deaths were among people aged 65 and above. A total of 84,583 deaths were recorded that week, while excess mortality was much lower in the weeks before and after. Lasse Vestergaard of Denmark's Statens Serum Institut, which coordinates EuroMOMO, said the spike was most likely linked to the widespread heat wave because there was no other clear explanation for such a large increase in deaths. He described such a high number of excess deaths in a single week as "highly unusual." According to EuroMOMO, France, Belgium and Germany recorded the highest rates of excess mortality during the period. Individual countries have also released their own estimates, although the methods used vary. Germany Germany's Robert Koch Institute estimated that 6,830 people died from heat-related causes through early July, including 6,470 people aged 65 or older. Late June temperatures reached 41.7 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in the country, according to the German Weather Service. United Kingdom Britain's Met Office estimated that about 2,700 people died from heat-related causes during heat waves in England and Wales in May and June. Around 550 of those deaths occurred during a late-May heat wave, while about 2,200 were linked to the late-June heat wave. The UK also recorded its hottest May and June on record. France France's public health agency reported at least 2,000 more deaths during the week of June 22-28 compared with the previous week. The country experienced its hottest days on record on June 24 and 25, with more than 40% of France recording temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. Spain Spain's Carlos III Health Institute estimated that 937 deaths in June were linked to extreme heat. According to the national weather agency AEMET, June was the country's second-hottest on record, with average temperatures 3.2 degrees Celsius above normal. Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius during a five-day heat wave. Belgium Belgium's public health institute Sciensano estimated 1,747 excess deaths between June 18 and July 1. The institute said higher mortality is expected during heat waves, but described the June 2026 event as exceptional because of its intensity and widespread impact. The country's highest temperature during the heat wave reached 35.5 degrees Celsius on June 26. Netherlands Dutch public health authorities estimated 480 more deaths than expected during the June heat wave. The increase was greatest in the eastern and southern parts of the country, where temperatures were highest. The Netherlands also recorded its hottest June temperature on record at 36.8 degrees Celsius, breaking a record that had stood since 1947.

Environmental activists, students, teachers and community members on Friday called for urgent action against lead pollution in Rangpur, warning that unsafe lead-acid battery recycling and other sources of exposure are putting millions of children at serious health risk. The call was made from an awareness rally organised by youth-led environmental organisation YouthNet Global with support from Pure Earth, an international organisation working to eliminate toxic pollution, as part of a week-long nationwide campaign being conducted across all eight divisions of Bangladesh under the theme, “Stop Lead Pollution, Ensure Healthy Lives and a Safe Environment.” The rally began from Chandra Mor in Rangpur city in the morning and passed through major streets, including Abu Sayed Chattar, before ending at the main gate of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur. Students, teachers, environmental activists, government representatives and young people joined the campaign carrying banners and placards demanding stronger measures to control lead contamination, according to a press release.

Dhaka ranked 27th among the world's most polluted cities on Friday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 84 at 11:06am.  According to the AQI scale, the city's air quality was classified as “moderate”, meaning the air is generally acceptable for most people, although a very small number of unusually sensitive individuals may experience moderate health concerns. Low pressure over Bay may intensify, heavy rainfall likely across country Chicago, Detroit and New York of the United States grabbed the top three spots on the global pollution list with an AQI score of 651, 462 and 203, respectively. According to AQI standards, a reading between 101 and 150 is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, 151 to 200 “unhealthy”, 201 to 300 “very unhealthy”, while levels above 301 are deemed “hazardous”, posing serious health risks. The AQI, which provides daily updates on air quality, indicates how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health impacts. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically worsening in winter and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted rains and thundershowers across the country in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Thursday. “Light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rajshahi & Dhaka divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country. Temperature: Day and night temperature may fall slightly over the country,” said a BMD bulletin. Monsoon activity remains fairly active over Bangladesh and strong over the North Bay, it said. The BMD also said both day and night temperatures may fall slightly across the country due to the prevailing weather conditions. The low-pressure area over the North Odisha-West Bengal coast and adjoining areas persists and is likely to intensify further, it said. The axis of the monsoon trough extends through Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, the centre of the low-pressure area and Assam, passing across the southern part of Bangladesh, it said.

Dhaka ranked 13th among the world's most polluted cities on Thursday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 105 at 9:40 am. According to the AQI scale, the city's air quality was classified as 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Group', poses minor health risks to vulnerable people. Detroit in USA topped the global pollution list with an AQI score of 808, followed by Minneapolis in USA with 419 and Kinshasa in DR Congo with 177. According to AQI standards, a reading between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151 to 200 ‘unhealthy’, 201 to 300 ‘very unhealthy’, while levels above 301 are deemed ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks. The AQI, which provides daily updates on air quality, indicates how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health impacts.In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically worsening in winter and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Wednesday said a low-pressure area has formed over the Northwest Bay and adjoining North Odisha-West Bengal coast, raising the likelihood of rains again across the country. According to the Met Office, the axis of the monsoon trough extends through Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, the centre of the low-pressure area and Assam, passing across the southern part of Bangladesh. The monsoon is currently fairly active over Bangladesh and strong over the North Bay, the BMD said. In its forecast commencing from 9:00am Wednesday, the Met Office said light to moderate rain likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh & Sylhet divisions and few places over Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal & Chattogram divisions. Moderately heavy to heavy rainfall is expected at places across the country, according to the forecast. The BMD also said both day and night temperatures may rise slightly across the country over the next 24 hours.

Dhaka ranked 6th among the world's most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 137 at 9:05 am. According to the AQI scale, the city's air quality was classified as 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Group', poses minor health risks to vulnerable people. Kinshasa in DR Congo topped the global pollution list with an AQI score of 178, followed by Medan in Indonesia with 158 and Doha in Qatar with 157. According to AQI standards, a reading between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 151 to 200 ‘unhealthy’, 201 to 300 ‘very unhealthy’, while levels above 301 are deemed ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks. The AQI, which provides daily updates on air quality, indicates how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health impacts.In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically worsening in winter and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka ranked as the world's second most polluted city on Tuesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 165 at 09:20 am. The air quality was classified as 'unhealthy' category, indicating that the concentration of airborne pollutants had reached a level that could pose health risks to the general public, according to the AQI scale.. Indonesia's capital Jakarta topped the list with an AQI score of 174, while Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ranked third with a score of 157. An AQI reading between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', while a score between 151 and 200 is classified as 'unhealthy'. Readings between 201 and 300 are deemed 'very unhealthy', and levels above 301 are considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks. The AQI, an index that tracks daily air quality, indicates how polluted the air is and the potential health effects on residents. In Bangladesh, AQI measurements are based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.