3-km HSIA area 'Silent Zone'

A 3-km area around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) has been launched as 'Silent Zone' on Tuesday, aiming to make the area honking-free, reports UNB.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, inaugurated the three kilometre area as 'Silent zone' officially at the headquarters of the Civil Aviation Authority in Kurmitola, Dhaka on Wednesday.
Addressing the event, Rizwana Hasan said to change the longstanding habit of honking, people will first be made aware, and then law will be enforced strictly.
Initially, the initiative will focus on key areas and then will be expanded to entire Dhaka city, and eventually, divisional cities will also be brought under the programme to curb noise pollution, she said.
She added that the renewal of driving licenses will include a condition of prohibiting the use of horns.
"A fine of Tk 500 will be imposed for the first offense. Mistakes will be reviewed during October and November, and from December, the fines will be strictly enforced," she said.
She thanked all involved in the initiative and expressed the hope that similar programmes would be implemented in other parts of the country.