Noise pollution in Dhaka city is not a new issue for its residents. A recent report of the United Nations Environment Programme 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 considered harmful to health, according to the report.
The World Health Organization had recommended a 55-dB standard for residential areas in its 1999 guidelines. For traffic and business sectors, this limit is 70 dB. However, the noise level most of the time in Dhaka city is more than twice the tolerable standard, which is causing long-term damages to physical and mental health of the city-dwellers.
Noise pollution is a silent killer. According to experts, it causes mental and physical illness among people. 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 of 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 city's 'silent zones' really remain silent.
Fariha Tabassum Piya,
Student of Department of Management,
University of Dhaka, Dhaka,
f.tabassum36@gmail.com