DOE, DNCC and DMP rally to curb noise pollution in Dhaka
The Department of Environment, Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka Metropolitan Police jointly held a noise awareness rally at Gulshan-2 intersection in Dhaka on Friday, marking World Environment Day 2026.
The rally was organised under the "Integrated and Participatory Project for Noise Pollution Control", being implemented by the Department of Environment. It was held at 9:30am in coordination with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the Dhaka North City Corporation, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, the Department of Environment and the Gulshan Society.
Department of Environment Director General Dr Md Lutfar Rahman presided over the programme, while Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan attended as the chief guest.
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Speaking as the chief guest, Md Shafiqul Islam Khan said awareness must be increased alongside the enforcement of laws to control noise pollution.
"Everyone must be made aware that noise pollution is not only an environmental problem, but also a silent killer," he said.
He called on all stakeholders to come forward to control noise pollution and said Dhaka North City Corporation would play a more effective role in this regard.
In his speech, Dr Md Lutfar Rahman said the Department of Environment has been working relentlessly to control noise pollution.
He said the department has been implementing the "Integrated and Participatory Project for Noise Pollution Control" since 2020.
Under the project, training programmes are being conducted across the country for stakeholders, including students, transport drivers, traffic police, government officials and employees, construction workers and professionals from different sectors.
Mobile courts are also being conducted nationwide, while workshops are being organised with relevant stakeholders.
As part of efforts to raise awareness on noise pollution control, awareness messages have been displayed on signboards along road dividers on important roads in Dhaka. Advertisements have also been published in newspapers, television commercials are being aired on different channels, and campaigns are being run on social media and at key locations in the capital.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman said the traffic division of DMP has been working extensively to control noise pollution since traffic police were given authority under the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2025.
He said city residents would gradually begin to see the benefits of these efforts.
Md Anisur Rahman also said the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area has been declared a silent zone.
"From today, drives against noise pollution in the airport area will be intensified, and we will not allow horns to be used there," he said.
Speakers at the rally, organised on the occasion of World Environment Day, called on all concerned to come forward to control different forms of environmental pollution.
They said noise pollution has become a new source of disturbance in urban life, making city living increasingly difficult.
The speakers expressed their commitment to building a noise-free Bangladesh through the World Environment Day programme.
Others who spoke at the rally included the Department of Environment Dhaka Metropolitan Director and the Integrated and Participatory Project for Noise Pollution Control Project Director Farid Ahmad, leaders of Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan societies, and representatives of Green Voice and Green Savers.
Directors and senior officials of the Department of Environment, officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka North City Corporation, and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, representatives of the Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan societies, and volunteers of Green Savers and Green Voice were present.
After the rally, a campaign was conducted in the areas around the Gulshan-2 intersection.
Carrying banners, festoons and placards, participants stood on the footpaths and urged drivers passing through the area to refrain from honking. Volunteers also placed stickers on vehicles and distributed leaflets among drivers and passengers.
