In pictures: Air pollution hits Dhaka

Dhaka is grappling with dangerously high pollution levels, with dust-filled streets becoming a daily reality for its residents. As the Air Quality Index has recently surged to 261, the capital continues to rank among the world’s most polluted cities. The following pictures were taken recently and illustrate the current state of air pollution in Dhaka.

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People ride a three wheeler as dust blankets the street in Pagla, Narayanganj, on 10 November 2025.
Dipu Malakar
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A pedestrian crosses the road as dust blankets the street in Pagla, Narayanganj, on 10 November 2025.
Dipu Malakar
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A pedestrian crosses the road as dust blankets the street in Pagla, Narayanganj, on 10 November 2025.
Dipu Malakar
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People are overwhelmed by dust and dirt on the streets in the Beribadh area of Hazaribagh, Dhaka on 10 November 2025.
Sazid Hossain
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People are overwhelmed by dust and dirt on the streets in the Beribadh area of Hazaribagh, Dhaka on 10 November 2025.
Sazid Hossain
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Thick dust covers the leaves of a roadside tree in Agargaon area of Dhaka on 19 November 2025.
Suvra Kanti Das
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Thick dust covers the leaves of a roadside tree in Agargaon area of Dhaka on 19 November 2025.
Suvra Kanti Das