Meanwhile, Madaripur, Patuakhali, and Meherpur have the best air quality in the country respectively due to the abundance of vegetation and water bodies in these districts, the study observed.
The findings of the study titled ‘Atmospheric Survey of 64 Districts across the Country’ conducted by the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) under the Stamford University Bangladesh was disseminated at the National Press Club in Dhaka.
CAPS founding Chairman Professor Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder presented findings of the study at the event presided over by Stamford University Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Ali Naqi.
Moderated by CAPS Research Lead Abdullah Al Nayeem, the programme was also addressed by Dhaka University Professor Dr Mohammad Jasim Uddin, former additional director general of Department of Environment Quazi Sarwar Imtiaz Hashmi, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) general secretary Sharif Jamil, among others.
The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Bangladesh is 65 microgram (µg) per cubic metre for 24-hour on average.