One of the worst kinds of nuisance in today's Bangladesh is noise pollution. It is an irritant we begin and end our day with. Yet, hardly anyone seems to care how much it is affecting our life and health. A report of the United Nations Environment Programme published in 2022 has officially recognised Bangladesh's capital Dhaka as the noisiest city in the world. The report stated that the average noise frequency in the city stands at 119 decibels, which is the highest among 61 major cities of the world. Sounds with a frequency of over 70 dB are reportedly considered harmful to health.
The noise pollution, particularly in the context of the upcoming national elections, has already become a nuisance for the city residents. As the capital is abuzz with campaigns for the 12th national election, candidates are found using loudspeakers during the hours when it is not permitted by electoral rules. The excessive use of microphones during political campaigns has been contributing substantially to the overall noise levels in our environment. The detrimental impact of this noise pollution is not just causing inconvenience, but it is posing a severe threat to both our physical and mental health. The most affected by the increasing noise pollution are children, the elderly and expecting mothers.
Noise pollution is a silent killer. It can cause loss of hearing, deafness, heart attack, stroke, heart disease, loss of attention in children's education, impaired mental development, irritable mood, stomach ulcers, insomnia, agitation and anxiety, etc. Noise pollution can even affect the physical and mental growth of the foetus. We must create an environment free from sound pollution for ourselves and for our children. We would like to seek the attention of the authorities concerned to look into the matter seriously and take effective measures so that the noise pollution caused by election campaigns remains under control.
Md. Khaled Syfullah,
Student of International Islamic
University Chittagong, Chattogram,
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