Rally for law to ban hydraulic horns held in Barisal

A rally was held in Barisal city on Saturday, advocating for civic awareness about noise pollution and safety hazards caused by the use of hydraulic horns by vehicles.

The event, which started and ended at the Euro Convention Centre, saw participants march through several main roads of the city.

During the rally, participants distributed informational leaflets about the negative effects of hydraulic horns at local shops and important institutions.

The event was organized by the Multiparty Advocacy Forum and featured speeches by Moazzem Hossain Chunnu, senior joint convener; AKM Mostafa; Hafiz Ahmed Bablu; and other members, including youths from various organizations, traffic department officials, and representatives from Democracy International Bangladesh.

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Among the notable attendees were Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Director Ziaur Rahman, Barisal Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Latif, district BNP Member Secretary (South) Abul Kalam Shaheen, district Awami League General Secretary Talukdar Md Yunus, district Jatiya Party Convener AKM Murtza Abedin, Barisal Reporters Unity Joint Secretary Mushfiq Sourav, and Press Club General Secretary Zakir Hossain.

Speakers at the rally emphasized the safety risks posed by hydraulic horns and called for discouraging their sale and use to ensure a safe and clean environment. Despite being legally banned in Bangladesh, hydraulic horns continue to be used, causing serious health problems, particularly in children.

According to World Health Organization standards, sound levels above 60dB can cause temporary deafness, and levels above 100dB can cause hearing impairment.

Belal Hossain, a doctor at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, highlighted the mental and physical health risks associated with excessive noise, including deafness, heart disease, loss of appetite, increased blood pressure, and inability to concentrate.

The rally concluded with a call to effectively implement the ban on hydraulic horns to protect public health and the environment.