Just as Dhaka often ranks among the world’s top most cities for air pollution, now the city often tops the list of noisiest cities as well.
The noise pollution in the capital city of Bangladesh is mainly caused by the traffic horns. Alongside the leading source, uncontrolled use of loudspeakers and excessive sound from construction work, factory and generators also cause the noise pollution in the city.
Although some laws cover the issue strongly, the noise pollution in urban life in the country, particularly in Dhaka city, is increasing to a terrible level day by day. Many said that the existing laws and regulations are not fully sufficient to control the noise pollution.
Loopholes have made the law and rules ineffective. The laws and regulations, especially in the case of honking traffic horns in Dhaka city, are being violated largely. In many cases, no action is taken due to the lack of proper monitoring or loopholes in the laws.
“Despite different laws and rules to control the noise pollution, their enforcement is not noticed as desired in Dhaka city. The noise pollution in the city is growing to alarming level mainly for excessive use of traffic horns and honking. The laws and rules can’t play an effective role in this regard,” said Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, a public health and environment policy expert.
Talking to Bangladesh Post on Friday (December 23), Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, Secretary of Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA Trust); pointed out some lacks of the related laws and regulations.
He said that no provision has been made for the immediate enforcement of the law or for taking measures to control illegal honking of traffic horns. He, however, opined that if it is possible to control the use of traffic horns in Dhaka city, the noise pollution will be reduced to a large extent.
Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006; Environment Conservation Rules, 1997; Road Transport Act, 2018 and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1976 cover the traffic horns and honking issue as well as the noise pollution.
The Noise Pollution Rules, 2006 identifies the quiet areas and prohibits the highest noise level, caused by traffic horns or any other sources, in the quiet areas. The quiet areas include hospitals, residential areas, educational institutions, offices and similar establishments, and their surrounding 100-meter area.
According to the rules, the permissible sound level is 50 decibels for daytime and 40 decibels during the night in quiet areas, while 70 decibels for daytime and 60 decibels for night in commercial areas, and 75 decibels for daytime and 70 decibels for night in industrial areas. The highest punishment for the noise pollution is one year of imprisonment, a Tk 5,000 fine, or both for the first time offense. For a second offense, the punishment will be six-month imprisonment, or a Tk 10,000 fine, or both.
The Rules also states about construction machines and noise level and timeframe of using such machineries in residential areas. The Rules also states about the sound level in social events such as wedding ceremony, cultural events or political events in open or partially open spaces.
According to the Noise Pollution Rules, anyone can complain to the police or Department of Environment (DoE) over phone or in writing regarding excessive noise. The DoE’s empowered officials will deal with the issue following complain. They can carry out mobile court over the noise pollution.
There are some obstacles in implementing the Rules. There is no 24-hour complain system. The police don’t have the power to impose fines immediately after honking traffic horns excessively.
According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1976; metropolitan police commissioner will enforce the law to prevent excessive level of traffic horns and the use of musical instruments and loudspeakers with high level sound. The police, however, can’t impose fines in this regard as per the law.
Like the Noise Pollution Rules, the Road Transport Act, 2018 also identifies the quiet areas and prohibits the highest noise level, but the law doesn’t give power to police or the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to impose fine for high level noise by honking horns or use of musical instruments or others.
Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin said that traffic horn control in Dhaka city is not possible with mobile court or regular court, as the mobile court can only try crimes committed in its presence. Provision should be made to control traffic horn by immediate measures. Police and other concerned should be empowered to impose and collect fines, he suggested.
The Environment Conservation Rules, 1997 also ensures the standard limit of sound in residential and commercial areas. However, there is also no instant action system in the Rules.
Muhammad Anowarul Hoque, an environment and conservation activist; said that although the Environment Conservation Rules, 1997 states about the noise pollution issue, who cares the law! “The noise pollution is a silent killer. We suffer as a result of the horrors of noise pollution. There are a lot of vehicles and traffic jams in Dhaka city and we have the worst experience with the noise,” he added.
Talking to Bangladesh Post, Muhammad Anowarul Hoque, secretary general at Save Our Sea; said that the laws and Rules related to noise pollution should be amended in order to control the noise pollution in Dhaka city and other parts of the country. He, however, said that people should be made aware in this regard.
The terrible situation of noise pollution is reflected in the number of calls to the national emergency service 999 in three years. In 2019, a total of 5,017 people called 999 for noise pollution related reasons, while 7,952 in 2020 and 9,238 in 2021. An average of 22 people call the national emergency service every day over noise pollution issue, said sources of the national emergency service.
It was reported that private cars are most responsible for the noise pollution than public vehicles. Private cars emit 19.41 per cent more noise than other vehicles. However, the number of private cars is increasing in Dhaka and other towns of the country.
Against this backdrop, traffic policemen are considered as a group vulnerable to develop hearing loss as they are exposed to long hours of traffic noise.
According to Dr Sheikh Nurul Fattah Rumi, an ENT professor; many people suffer from hearing problems on a large scale due to the noise pollution. Alongside the hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart disease, insomnia and stress are also caused by the noise pollution.
According to him, the hydraulic horn is one of the immeasurable means of noise pollution that causes serious health problems, especially to the children and traffic policemen.
