Unable to sleep for two consecutive nights due to the deafening noise of bricks being crushed at a nearby construction site, Romena Ahmed finally dialed 999, pleading for police intervention to halt the nighttime work.
The police promptly responded, forcing the contractor to pause the construction, reports UNB.
But Romena’s solution is not always easy to replicate, as many are unsure if or when police help will be available in similar situations.
City Drowning in Noise
Bill Maclain, a Canadian who visited Dhaka for the third time last year, shared his experience. “Noise has become intolerable in Dhaka. This time, I had to use earplugs to block the noise while on the roads,” he said.
“Stepping into Dhaka's streets often feels like entering a cacophony of honking vehicles, where drivers seem to compete to produce the loudest sound. A mere second’s delay can trigger an onslaught of ear-piercing horns.”
Adding to the chaos are the unceasing clatter of construction sites, the screech of metal being cut, the thud of crushed bricks, and the roar of generators.
Loudspeakers blare without restraint, making peace a rarity in the city.
“Even the street vendors use loudspeakers to sell their products. It is not tolerable and all these should be stopped,” said Nazma Begum, a resident of Malibagh area.
The use of hydraulic horns in motor vehicles in Bangladesh was banned by the High Court in 2017, as it can reach volumes of 120 decibels, and exposure to such levels for longer than 60 seconds can cause immediate injury and harm to hearing.
In reality, the High Court’s directive to the government was forgotten with time and most vehicles on Dhaka roads are still using them.
“I have to wait for a long time to get a public transport to reach office but the waiting time turns horrible due to horns of different vehicles on roads,” said Md Masud, a service holder.
The Health Toll of Noise Pollution
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noise levels above 65 decibels (dB) regarded as pollution, with 75 dB being harmful and 120 dB outright agonizing. In 2018, WHO recommended limiting traffic noise to 53 dB for health reasons.
Bangladesh, the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2006 says that the acceptable sound limit in the silent areas is 50 dB for the daytime and 40dB for night; in residential areas 55dB for day and 45dB for night; in the mixed areas 60dB for day and 50dB for night; in commercial areas 70dB for day and 60dB for night; and in the industrial areas 75dB for day and 70dB for night.
The guidelines say exceeding the maximum noise level in certain areas is a punishable offence.
But Dhaka’s residents face hazardous noise levels at home, work, schools, and even hospitals daily.
Experts warn of irreversible noise-induced hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, and stress caused by prolonged exposure to excessive noise.
According to a Frontiers report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), noise pollution also disrupts urban wildlife, affecting communication among birds, frogs, and insects, and threatening their survival.
The report highlights alarming statistics about the impact of noisy environments. In Europe alone, prolonged noise exposure contributes to 12,000 premature deaths annually and 48,000 new cases of ischemic heart disease.
Efforts to Control Noise
In a bid to curb noise pollution, a 3-kilometer area around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport was declared a “Silent Zone” on October 1 last year.
The initiative aims to enforce a honking ban. Violators could face fines starting at Tk 500, which was supposed to be strictly implemented from December.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), the Department of Environment, the Road Department, and the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association are responsible for enforcing the regulation.
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, said Environment Adviser Rizwana Hasan.
She added that the renewal of driving licenses will include a condition of prohibiting the use of horns.
Silent Zones: Not Effective Yet
Despite previous declarations of silent zones in areas like the Secretariat, Agargaon, and the Parliament, a study by the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) found no significant enforcement.
The Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) at Stamford University conducted a year-long study from April 2021 to March 2022, examining noise levels at 10 locations in Dhaka.
The research revealed that noise exceeded acceptable limits in all surveyed areas. Specifically, 96.7% of the time in quiet zones, 91.2% in residential areas, 83.2% in mixed-use areas, 61% in commercial areas, and 18.2% in industrial areas, the noise levels surpassed the standard thresholds.
Noise levels in the Secretariat area average 79.5 dB—far above the permissible limits.
“If we eliminate horns, we could reduce 60% of Dhaka’s noise pollution,” said Professor Ahmed Kamruzzaman, chair of Stamford University’s Environmental Science Department.
He underscored the need for stronger legal frameworks and public cooperation to tackle the issue effectively.
Looking Ahead
As the government plans to designate 10 more roads in Dhaka as silent zones by January 2025, hopes are pinned on reducing noise pollution in one of the world’s noisiest cities.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan recently said new rules to control noise pollution will be finalised soon which will empower police to control noise pollution.
She emphasised the need for more than just fines and jail terms.
Public awareness and responsible behaviour are key, she said.
Changing habits will take time, but with proper education and enforcement, we can significantly reduce honking,she said.
She stressed the importance of educating both drivers and the general public before fines is imposed, underscoring the need for a shift in public behavior regarding noise pollution.
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
