Mobile court drives to curb use of fireworks

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will conduct mobile courts across the country, including Dhaka, to prevent the increasing usage of fireworks, firecrackers and sky lanterns during New Year's Eve.
Fireworks and firecrackers heighten air and sound pollution negatively impact humans, animals, birds, plants as well as the entire ecosystem.
Excessive air and noise pollution pose high risk of heart disease, stroke and mental stress.
Additionally, sky lanterns can easily get stuck on electric wires, trees, and even thatched houses and cause fire incidents.
Under the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006, these activities are punishable offenses.
Violators may face up to 1 month of imprisonment, a fine of up to TK 5,000 or both for the first offender.
A repeat offender may get punishment up to 6 months of imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 10,000 or both, according to a media statement of the ministry.
In this regard, letters have been sent to clubs in Dhaka and relevant organizations requesting restraint from using fireworks, firecrackers, and sky lanterns during New Year celebration.
All are urged to avoid such harmful activities in the public interest, it added.
Meanwhile, Metrorail authority on Monday in a separate notification urged people dodging sky lanterns to ring in the New Year along the MRT Line-6 from alignment and surrounding areas from Uttara to Motijheel.
BSS adds: a writ petition has been filed with the High Court (HC) seeking a ban on fireworks on the rooftops and releasing lanterns in the sky during the 31st night.
Ashrafuzzaman, a lawyer of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, filed the writ with the the HC on Monday.

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