Dhaka has ranked 11th among the world’s most polluted cities, with an air quality index (AQI) score of 105, according to the latest data released by Switzerland-based air quality monitoring organisation IQAir on Wednesday (September 2).Malaysia’s Kuching topped the list with an AQI score of 346, placing its air quality in the hazardous category. Air at this level poses an extremely serious risk to public health.Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ranked second with a score of 168, classified as unhealthy. Other cities among the most polluted included Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and Riyadh.Meanwhile, Dhaka’s AQI of 105 puts its air in the category of unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children, elderly people and those with respiratory problems may face greater health risks at this level of pollution.According to IQAir’s classification, an AQI score of 0–50 is considered good, while 51–100 is moderate. A score of 101–150 is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, and 151–200 as unhealthy. Air quality with a score of 201–300 is considered very unhealthy, while a score above 300 falls into the hazardous category.