HC bans horns in Dhaka’s VIP, residential areas at night

The High Court has banned the uses of all types of horns in the residential and VIP areas in Dhaka after 10pm. The court also restricted the uses of horns on the roads nearby schools, colleges and hospitals, while asking the authorities again to take actions to halt production and sales of hydraulic horns in the country. The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order on Thursday following a petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). Besides, the court set a maximum speed limit of 20 kmph for vehicles in residential and VIP areas of the capital after 10pm. It also asked the authorities concerned to set up surveillance teams on Kakrail to Moghbazar road, Mymensingh road and Shahbagh to Science Laboratory road and Gabtoli road. The home affairs secretary and the inspector general of police were asked to issue instructions on the ban, said lawyer Manzill Murshid, who argued for the petition. Deputy Attorney General Taposh Kumar Biswas represented the state. On November 5, the High Court had directed the government to stop the uses of hydraulic horns across the country, aiming to mitigate sound pollution. On August 23, the court banned the uses of hydraulic horns in Dhaka. Later on October 8, the transport owners and drivers of Dhaka were given 15 days to deposit the hydraulic horns used in their vehicles to their respective police stations. According to the petition, any machine which causes sound pollution cannot be used as per Motors Vehicles Ordinance. But violating the act, different vehicles are still using hydraulic horns.