Dhaka wrapped in dust and smoke ahead of winter

Dhaka wrapped in dust and smoke ahead of winter Winter hasn’t fully arrived yet but the air in Dhaka is already poisoned. It’s Friday, most factories are closed, traffic is lighter than usual yet the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has hit 160 in the morning, placing it firmly in the “unhealthy” category. The city seems wrapped in an invisible blanket of dust, smoke and toxic particles. Once again, Dhaka has climbed to the top of the list of the world’s most polluted cities. The photos captured by Md. Samsul Alam Hadi show streets across the capital appear blanketed in dust; sand from ongoing construction swirls through the air. Pedestrians move cautiously—some wearing masks, others covering their faces with scarves. Even the sunlight struggles to pierce through the gray haze.