Noise pollution control project closing workshop held in Dhaka

The Department of Environment on Sunday concluded the Integrated and Participatory Project to Control Noise Pollution with a workshop at its Dhaka headquarters, underscoring its achievements in raising public awareness, intensifying enforcement, designating silent zones, and conducting nationwide noise-level surveys.

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintoo, Member of Parliament, attended as the chief guest.

Speaking at the event, Abdul Awal Mintoo called for the inclusion of noise pollution in the national education curriculum and urged collective action to address the issue.

Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md Raihan Kaosar; Director (Operation) of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Mir Ahmed Tarikul Omar; Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Nurun Nahar; Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Md Anisur Rahman; and Additional Director General of the Department of Environment Md Ziaul Haque attended as special guests.

Director General of the Department of Environment Dr Lutfar Rahman chaired the event.

Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Md Raihan Kaosar, warned that noise pollution is exacerbating health risks and causing significant harm to both people and biodiversity.

Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Md Anisur Rahman, reported that since the introduction of the Noise Pollution Control Rules 2025, the police have filed 29,478 cases and collected Tk1.92 crore in fines.

Director General of the Department of Environment, Dr Tk 1.92 Rahman, expressed gratitude to the project team for its success and urged all stakeholders to collaborate with the government to combat noise pollution.

The event featured the unveiling of a comprehensive survey on noise levels across all 64 districts and a detailed presentation on the project's progress from inception to completion.

Launched in January 2020, the project is scheduled to conclude in June 2026 with a total budget of Tk5,484.89 lakh.

The project focused on three core objectives: enhancing stakeholder capacity and public awareness to support the Noise Pollution Control Rules 2006; collecting and preserving data on pollution levels, sources, and impacts; and piloting effective measures to control noise pollution.

Under the project, 139,640 individuals received training, and 16 stakeholder workshops were organised.

Training of Trainers programmes targeted officials from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Islamic Foundation, and Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Additionally, a dedicated session on noise pollution was incorporated into daylong Bangladesh Road Transport Authority training for drivers.

International Noise Awareness Day was marked nationwide every year as part of the project.

As part of its awareness initiatives, 7,623 minutes of public service announcements aired on 23 television channels and two FM radio stations, while 300 colour advertisements on noise awareness appeared in national daily newspapers.

The project leveraged Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, news portals, and mobile messaging for awareness campaigns. An online quiz competition on the Noise Pollution Control Rules attracted participation from approximately 80,000 college and university students.

A total of 128 noise-awareness billboards were installed—two in each district town—while 210 signboards were erected at key road dividers in Dhaka.

To build stakeholder capacity, the project procured and distributed 300 sound meters to the divisional and district offices of the Department of Environment, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

A comprehensive survey of noise levels across all 64 districts was conducted, and a data repository was developed to inform future planning and research.

Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan were designated as 'silent areas' under the project. The road from Le Méridien Dhaka to Uttara Scholastica Secondary School, in front of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, was also included.

To enforce the silent area initiative, coordinated drives were conducted in Dhaka, engaging the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, and the Dhaka North and South City Corporations.

More than 700 public awareness campaigns engaged communities in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Niketan, Dhanmondi Society, environmental organisations, and educational institution clubs.

Relevant agencies—including the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, and Dhaka Metropolitan Police—are actively implementing project activities and collaborating to expand silent area coverage.

Law enforcement was bolstered by the operation of 2,500 mobile courts during the project period.

The Noise Pollution Control Rules 2006 were revised and replaced by the more contemporary Noise Pollution Control Rules 2025, enhancing the regulatory framework.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Planning Commission, the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and the Islamic Foundation, along with representatives from housing societies, environmental organisations, and print and electronic media, were present.