Concerted efforts of all the government, non-government and volunteer organizations concerned can be the crucial means of mitigating noise pollution as it's being judged as one of the silent killers at present.
Forging social resistance has become an urgent need to fight against noise pollution to save people from being infected with various physical and mental disorders.
Noise pollution is the main reason behind 30 major diseases in the human body and around five percent of the population is affected physically and mentally by the pollution.
Administrative officials and experts came up with the importance while addressing a workshop titled "Physical Risks due to Noise Pollution and Way Forward to Check the Pollution" here on Saturday.
On behalf of its "Integrated and Partnership Project on Noise Pollution Control" project, the Department of Environment (DoE) organized the workshop at the office conference hall of Divisional Commissioner.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir addressed the workshop as chief guest, while Additional Commissioner Tarafder Akter Jamil was in the chair.
Superintendent of Police Monirul Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Helena Akter, Deputy Director of the Department of Health Dr Habibur Rahman and DoE Deputy Director Mahmuda Parveen also spoke.
During his keynote presentation, Training and Campaign Specialist Gazi Mohibur Rahman gave an overview of the project along with its aims, objectives and implementation strategy.
Under the project, students, transport drivers, labourers, factory and construction workers, journalists, business people, imams, teachers, and representatives of non-governmental organisations are being trained to play active roles in these activities.
Dr Asadur Rahman, Head of the Department of Ear Nose and Throat at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, also talked about the demerits of noise pollution to public health.
He said noise pollution has reached an unbearable level in the country, exposing an adverse effect on human health and the environment.
Prof Rahman said noise pollution causes multifarious physical and mental disorders of people. Utmost emphasis should be given to creating mass-awareness with full-length enforcement of the existing laws to protect public health from the adverse effects of sound pollution.
Mentioning that excessive traffic noise disrupts people's lives, he said: "Now, it's the time to forge social resistance against noise pollution for a sustainable socio-economic development. We should build safe havens for the future generations."
Commissioner Dr Humayun Kabir said the government prioritised controlling noise pollution and mobile courts are being conducted for proper enforcement of the law.
He told the meeting that initiatives have been taken to include the subject in the curriculum to make children sound-aware from childhood.
"It will be possible to control the noise pollution of the country if we get the cooperation of all concerned along with the government's initiative to prevent noise pollution," he added.
Commissioner Humayun Kabir said many people suffer a lot due to sound pollution. So, all the authorities and individuals concerned should come forward and work together to reduce sound pollution.
The existing laws related to controlling noise pollution should be enforced and the drivers should drive their vehicles abiding by the law to check sound pollution for the greater interest of public health.
