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Dinajpur, situated in Bangladesh's Rangpur Division near the Indian border, occupies a strategic position in South Asia's Ganges-Brahmaputra floodplain. The city's urban character blends administrative functions with agricultural market town vibrancy, surrounded by extensive rice paddies and jute fields that define its rural-urban gradient. At approximately 40 meters above sea level on flat alluvial terrain, Dinajpur's topography creates natural drainage challenges that exacerbate waterlogging during monsoon seasons. The city lies approximately 100 kilometers south of the Himalayan foothills, a positioning that influences regional wind patterns and pollution dispersion. Proximity to the Barapukuria coal mine introduces industrial elements into an otherwise agricultural landscape, while the Tista and Punarbhaba rivers frame the region without providing significant air-cleansing effects. This geographic setting—flat, low-lying, and surrounded by intensive agriculture—creates a natural basin effect where pollutants from brick kilns, vehicle exhaust, and agricultural burning tend to accumulate rather than disperse. The urban-rural interface sees pollution sources concentrated along transportation corridors while agricultural burning emissions drift into urban areas from surrounding fields. Dinajpur's position as a regional hub attracts vehicular traffic whose exhaust combines with road dust on unpaved sections, while the lack of topographic relief prevents natural ventilation that might otherwise improve air quality in similar cities.

Dinajpur's tropical wet-and-dry climate creates distinct seasonal air quality patterns that residents must navigate carefully. During the dry winter months from November through February, pollution reaches its peak as meteorological conditions conspire against clean air. Cool temperatures create frequent temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the surface, while calm winds from the northeast fail to disperse emissions from brick kilns operating at full capacity during the construction season. Dense fog often forms in December and January, combining with particulate matter to create hazardous smog that reduces visibility and respiratory comfort. Sensitive groups including children, elderly residents, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions should minimize outdoor exposure during morning hours when pollution concentrations are highest. The pre-monsoon months of March through May bring rising temperatures and occasional thunderstorms that provide temporary cleansing, though agricultural burning and increased dust from dry fields can still cause moderate pollution episodes. From June through September, the southwest monsoon delivers substantial rainfall that dramatically improves air quality by washing pollutants from the atmosphere and suppressing dust and burning activities—this period offers the best conditions for outdoor activities. October marks a transition period as monsoon rains retreat and pollution sources gradually reactivate, signaling the approach of another challenging winter season.