After government initiatives to control air pollution in the capital repeatedly failed, rain has now emerged as an effective remedy. Wednesday morning's rainfall lived up to expectations, bringing significant relief from the hazardous air that had gripped the city for the past week.
On Tuesday, the capital's air remained polluted and unhealthy throughout the day. However, following the early morning rain on Wednesday, the air quality showed marked improvement.
For nearly a week, Dhaka had consistently ranked among the top five most polluted cities in the world. By 9:15 am on Wednesday, the city had dropped to the 19th position globally, with an AQI reading of 96.
According to IQAir, a Switzerland-based air quality monitoring organization, this reading falls into the 'moderate' category.
Rainfall and Its Impact
According to the meteorological office, rain began in the capital shortly before 6:00 am on Wednesday, accompanied by thunder and gusty winds. A total of 16 millimeters of rainfall was recorded by morning. Sources attribute the sudden improvement in air quality directly to this rainfall.Situation in Other Divisional Cities
While Dhaka's air quality has improved, detailed data on the current air quality status of other divisional cities has not yet been released. The report also noted that Dhaka was once recognized as one of the least polluted cities in the world, a status that has long since changed.Experts suggest that while rain provides temporary relief, sustainable solutions require effective long-term measures. Strict monitoring of vehicular emissions, construction dust, and industrial waste remains essential to address the root causes of pollution.
