The New Year's Eve celebration was unknown to most people in Bangladesh until the early nineties of the last century. It began on a small scale in the seventies when it was confined to the neo-rich class and celebrities in Dhaka city, usually arranged indoors. The festival started getting popular among youngsters in the capital in the nineties and invited some evil elements associated with it.
Firecrackers, fireworks and sky lanterns have been a part of the New Year's Eve celebration in Dhaka of late though it has had catastrophic impacts on environment, wildlife and humans. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has been imposing restrictions on them ahead of the celebrations for the last few years but the celebrants pay little heed to the restriction.
Amid the blatant defiance, which led to the death of a boy in 2022 and hundreds of birds in the last couple of years, the High Court stepped in this time and ordered all relevant authorities, including the police and other law enforcement agencies, to ensure that no firecrackers burst, no fireworks crackle and no sky lanterns fly in Dhaka on the New Year night. The Department of Environment also joined hands with law enforcers to enforce the ban, but the situation has hardly changed.
Dhaka people experienced huge displays of fireworks and explosions of firecrackers as the city welcomed the New Year 2025. In many neighbourhoods, the festivities began hours before midnight. By the time the clock struck 12, the city's air had become thick with smoke, and the noise of celebratory explosions drowned the usual hum of urban life, proving the enforcement measures largely ineffective.
The environmental consequences of Dhaka's New Year celebrations are both short- and long-term. Fireworks release a cocktail of toxic substances, including heavy metals like lead and cadmium, as well as chemicals such as perchlorates, which are used as oxidizers. These pollutants contaminate the air, water, and soil.
According to media reports, air quality indices (AQI) in parts of Dhaka spiked to hazardous levels in the night of celebrations. Particulate matter, a key pollutant linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, surged dramatically. This rise at a time when Dhaka already ranks among the most polluted cities globally is alarming.
The noise pollution from firecrackers, which often exceeds 100 decibels, far more than safe thresholds, can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, and heightened stress levels. For persons with heart conditions or anxiety disorders, the noise can trigger serious health consequences. The dense smoke generated by fireworks contains fine particles that penetrate deep into the lungs, exacerbating respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are particularly at risk.
Dhaka's urban ecosystem, home to a variety of bird species and other wildlife, is particularly vulnerable to the chaos of fireworks and firecrackers. The loud noises and flashes disrupt the natural behaviour of animals, causing stress, physical harm, and sometimes death.
The perennial disregard for the firecracker and fireworks ban focuses on the challenges of enforcing environmental regulations in a densely populated city like Dhaka. It underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to addressing the issue effectively.
What the authorities need to do urgently is to stop the sources of firecrackers, fireworks and sky lanterns. Factories clandestinely producing them and the supply chain dealing in them should be shut down. Otherwise, mere imposition of restrictions and bans will yield no results. The authorities also need to strengthen surveillance and introduce stricter penalties for violations. Deploying additional police force and creating hotlines for reporting violations could enhance compliance.
The authorities can encourage the adoption of eco-friendly celebrations, such as laser light shows or digital displays, which will reduce the reliance on traditional fireworks and firecrackers. Public campaigns to aware citizens about the adverse effects of fireworks on health, environment, and wildlife are also necessary for voluntary compliance. Schools, media outlets, and community leaders can play pivotal roles in this regard.
It is necessary for citizens and the authorities alike to recognise the shared responsibility in shaping a more sustainable future for Bangladesh and they can reimagine celebrations in a way that minimises harm while preserving the festive spirit.
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