Rizwana urges stopping unnecessary honking to curb noise pollution

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Information and Broadcasting and Environment, Forests and Climate Change on Saturday urged people from all walks of life to avoid unnecessary honking as part of efforts to control noise pollution.

"Honking without reason has become a deeply rooted bad habit over the years," she said, adding that curbing noise pollution requires not only strict enforcement of laws but also a change in public behaviour, reports BSS.

The adviser made the remarks while inaugurating a rally organised under the Department of  Environment's ongoing Integrated and Partnership-based Project for Noise Pollution Control in Dhaka.

The rally, jointly organised by the Department of Environment and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), aimed to raise public awareness about noise pollution.

With the slogan "No More Noise Pollution, Let Healthy Life Prevail," the adviser formally launched the colourful procession.

The rally started from Manik Mia Avenue (South Plaza of the National Parliament Building) in the morning, passed through Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, and Bijoy Sarani, and concluded at the Department of Environment in Agargaon.

Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, attended the programme.

Adviser Rizwana highlighted that the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2025, have already been gazetted. Under the rules, law enforcement responsibility now extends to the police alongside the Department of Environment, allowing immediate action against noise polluters since police personnel remain on the roads around the clock.

She noted that several areas of Dhaka have been declared silent zones and stressed the importance of strengthening monitoring in these areas.

The adviser identified unnecessary honking and fireworks as the two main sources of noise pollution currently being addressed. She added that initiatives will be taken to ensure fireworks are set off only at designated places during Pahela Baishakh.

Expressing optimism, she said the next elected

government would continue ongoing programmes

to control noise pollution.