Dhaka, March 24 -- Bangladesh has retained its place as the second most polluted country in the world in 2025, with average air pollution levels more than 13 times above the World Health Organization's guideline, according to Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir.

The South Asian country recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 66.1 micrograms per cubic metre last year, behind only Pakistan, which topped the list with 67.3 micrograms per cubic metre (mg/cu m), IQAir said in its latest World Air Quality Report.

Tajikistan ranked third at 57.3 mg/cu m, followed by Chad at 53.6 mg/cu m and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 50.2 mg/cu m.

Bangladesh had also ranked second in 2024.

IQAir said Bangladesh, Pakistan and Tajiki...