On Sunday, October 15, from 10:00 am to 10:01 am, some designated places in Dhaka city will remain silent. As part of awareness to keep people free from the harmful effects of noise pollution, this symbolic program will be held by various environmental organizations, educational institutions and research centers including the Department of Environment (DoE). Actually a minute is not a big deal, the point is to get a message across to the general public. Giving the message that noise pollution is a crime. As a part of Noise awareness programme, 'Stop Sound Pollution, Observe Silent Minute' is being conducted.

To make this program successful, 11 important places in Dhaka city namely- in front of the Osmani Auditorium next to the Secretariat, Shahbag Mor, Uttara, Vijay Sarani Mor, Mirpur-10 Roundabout, Gabtali, Moghbazar, Mohakhali, Gulshan-1, at the intersection of Kamalapur Buddhist Temple and Jatrabari. Officials or employees of offices/organizations subordinate to the Ministry of Environment, school-college scout members, local public representatives, government office/organization officials or employees, traffic Members of the Police and Transport Owners Association are holding this human chain to create awareness with banners, festoons. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will call upon pedestrians, traffic police, commuters and motorists to refrain from honking for one minute along with distribution of noise awareness leaflets, stickers.

Although vehicles horns are mainly responsible for noise pollution, many other activities in our modern lives also cause noise pollution. Apart from this, terrible noise pollution is being created from construction activities, by playing loud microphones in all fields including political, social, cultural, and religious. As a result, people suffer from this noise pollution not only during the day, but also late at night. Nowadays noise pollution is a serious environmental problem affecting our physical and mental well-being. Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can lead to various health problems, including hearing loss, sleep disturbances, stress, anxiety, psychological disorder and even cardiovascular problems. Apart from the effects on human health, noise pollution also disturbs wildlife and damages their ecosystems. To tackle this growing problem, a two-pronged approach is essential, namely raising public awareness and enforcing stricter laws. Noise pollution has exceeded tolerable levels in almost every divisional city of the country including the capital. In almost all the busy areas of Dhaka city, the noise level is much higher than the acceptable level. The sources of words vary from time to time. The impact of noise pollution in urban areas is much higher than in rural areas. Not just outside the house, on the street, at work; Noise Pollution High levels of noise are also generated indoors from modern appliances such as food blenders, vacuum cleaners and pressure cookers. In order to create awareness about the Noise Pollution Control Rules (2006) and increase its efficient implementation, the Department of Environment has implemented the "Integrated and Participatory Program on Noise Pollution Control" for a period of two years 2015-2017. Training, meetings, seminars, distribution of leaflets, provision of sound level meters at district offices, production and promotion of TV sports, weekly awareness TV programs and survey activities have been conducted under the programme.

To minimize the Noise Pollution a total of 11 places across the country have been declared as silent areas till 2021. Government also implementing "Integrated and Partnership Project on Noise Pollution Control" since 2021, which includes stakeholder feedback, distribution of noise awareness leaflets, installation of sign boards, installation of awareness stickers, noise awareness TVCs, dissemination of small messages and circulars. Beside this, to get a baseline data an intensive measurement of noise level in 64 districts has done in collaboration with CAPS and EQMS. Contemporary revision and amendment of Noise Pollution Control Rules (2006) is in progress in collaboration with Department of Law of Dhaka University.

The Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) measured noise levels at a total of 82 intersections of two city corporation roads in Dhaka in 2022. In various parts of the city, the noise level is about 1.3 to 2 times higher than the acceptable noise level. Among the 37 places in Dhaka South City Corporation area, Newmarket Mor, Naya Paltan Mor and Press Club Mor have been found to have the highest levels of noise pollution.

On the other hand, Abul Hotel Mor, Dainik Bangla Mor and Zero Point Mor are comparatively less noise pollution. Among the 45 places in the Dhaka North City Corporation, the highest level of noise pollution is found at Mohammadpur Bus Stand Junction, Shia Mosque Junction and Mascot Plaza Junction, while Mirpur Beribandh Junction, Rabindra Sarani Junction and Gulshan-2 Junction have less noise pollution. CAPS conducted another study in front of 17 hospitals in the capital. Where the noise pollution level is the highest recorded at 89.9 decibels which is much higher than the standard value of 50 decibels for quiet areas during the day. The lowest noise level is found in front of Bangladesh Medical College and the highest in front of Central Hospital. CAPS 2019 study found that, overall, noise above 70 decibels was 87.57 percent of the survey period before the silent zone was declared, but increased to 96.03 percent of the time after the silent zone was declared. That is, after the announcement of the silent zone, the volume of noise in the Bangladesh Secretariat area increased by about 8.46 percent. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of awareness among the drivers. In 2020 CAPS conducted a questionnaire survey on the hearing health of 200 traffic policemen serving in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. According to the data obtained from the survey, the hearing of 11.8 percent of the traffic police has been damaged due to noise pollution. 15.5 percent of the traffic police said that they find it difficult to listen on mobile phones in general. According to traffic police, 19.1% watch TV at a higher volume than other members of the household. And 33.9 percent of the traffic police said that it is difficult to hear others unless they speak loudly. Meanwhile, 8.2 percent of the traffic police said that after a few hours of duty, they suffer from vertigo, dizziness, nausea and fatigue.

Increase coordination between the Ministry of Information, Department of Environment, Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, City Corporation, District Commissioner and Police Executive Officer's office in implementing the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006 which can be taken to prevent noise pollution; Incorporation of Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006 into the Mobile Courts Act; The Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006 subject to amendment conferring enforcement powers on the Traffic Police; Conducting regular coordination meetings with stakeholders at the initiative of the Department of Environment; Conducting Joint Operations/Mobile Courts on hydraulic Horn Off; Taking legal action to stop the importation of hydraulic horns in light of the import policy; Increasing penalties for honking in traffic laws; Licensing of vehicles according to noise standards; Issuance of licenses subject to verification of sound awareness level of drivers; Zones (Silent, Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Mixed) defined by the Rules are identified and gazette; inclusion in the curriculum; Community-based committees consisting of citizens, public representatives, professionals, and administration to oversee violations of noise pollution laws; Installation of signposts in designated zones (Silent, Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Mixed) as defined in the Rules; To reduce vehicular noise by planting trees along the road to create green belts; Light coloring the surface of building, road and other structure, Regulating private vehicles by improving public transport systems; Construction of barriers by the owner to block industrial noise; Covering and enclosing the generator and completing all the construction work. Along with strict enforcement of laws to control noise pollution, raising awareness among the public can play a special role. Also, awareness training can be provided to media workers under integrated and partnership projects to control noise pollution on various digital platforms. In this area, research-based reports on noise sources, health risks, psychological damage, economic damage and the conduct of individuals or organizations that regularly cause noise pollution may be published. Again, the department of environment can be given suggestions to prevent noise pollution by canvassing the opinion of the general public.

After all, we who are creating the noise pollution are also suffering from it. So we all have to be aware of the programs taken by the government as well as to stop the sources of noise pollution. It is difficult for the DoE or government or any single agency to solve a complex social problem like noise pollution alone. Only collective action can overcome a social crisis like noise pollution. So everyone should prevent noise pollution and work from their respective places.

Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Chairman, Dept. of Environmental Science, Stamford University Bangladesh, Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Chairman, Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS). E-mail: kamrul_sub@hotmail.com; dk@stamforduniversity.edu.bd