Sylhet Air Quality Index (AQI)

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Nestled in northeastern Bangladesh's Sylhet Division, Sylhet city occupies a distinctive geographic position that profoundly shapes its air quality challenges. Situated at approximately 25 meters above sea level in the Surma River valley, the city is surrounded by the lush, tea-covered hills of the Sylhet region, creating a natural amphitheater effect that traps pollutants. The urban core lies along the banks of the Surma River, with smaller tributaries like the Kushiyara River nearby, providing some natural ventilation but also contributing to humidity that can exacerbate particulate matter retention. Sylhet serves as the economic and administrative hub for Bangladesh's prime tea-growing region, placing it at the intersection of agricultural processing zones and urban development. The city's expansion has created a sharp urban-rural gradient, with tea estates and stone quarries operating in close proximity to residential areas. This geography creates a complex airshed where emissions from tea processing factories, cement production, and natural gas flaring from nearby fields accumulate in the valley basin, particularly during periods of atmospheric stability. The surrounding hills inhibit pollutant dispersion, while the river valleys channel both clean air and contaminants depending on wind patterns, making Sylhet's air quality highly sensitive to local meteorological conditions and industrial activities.

Sylhet's tropical wet-and-dry climate creates a distinct seasonal pattern in air quality that residents must navigate carefully. During the dry winter months from December through March, pollution reaches its peak as temperature inversions trap emissions from tea processing, cement factories, and vehicle exhaust close to the ground. Cool, stagnant air combines with morning fog to create hazardous breathing conditions, particularly for sensitive groups like children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory conditions who should limit outdoor activities during these months. The pre-monsoon period from April to May brings rising temperatures that can intensify dust and particulate matter, though occasional thunderstorms provide temporary cleansing. From June to September, the southwest monsoon dramatically improves air quality as heavy rains wash pollutants from the atmosphere and strong winds disperse industrial emissions—this becomes the most favorable period for outdoor activities. October and November see gradually deteriorating conditions as rainfall decreases and agricultural burning sometimes occurs. Throughout the year, weather hazards like flooding and cyclones can temporarily worsen air quality by stirring up sediment and disrupting normal pollution dispersion patterns, creating unpredictable spikes in particulate matter that require extra caution from vulnerable populations.