It is not unusual for busy areas of the city to routinely experience noise levels as high as 80 to 110dB, which, to say the least, far exceeds the limits the human ear is comfortable with.
Over a tenth of the population of Bangladesh, according to the Department of Environment, has suffered from hearing loss due to noise pollution.
Indeed, there are laws in place to reduce noise levels, but such laws are hardly ever enforced, as a result, public events, concerts, rallies, and even private events like weddings keep wreaking havoc on the eardrums of the general population.
It is time for the authorities to clean up their act and enforce the laws that exist.
For example, horns that produce more than 75 decibels of noise are banned in the country, but many vehicular horns are louder than this, particularly hydraulic air horns.
For too long, the adverse effects of noise pollution have been ignored in Bangladesh, because it is seen as a relatively minor problem; but it is not a minor matter, and its long term cost to public health may turn out to be much steeper than we think.
Most developed nations of the world have learned the importance of controlling noise levels, which is why laws involving blaring horns and loudspeakers in public places are strictly enforced; furthermore, noise shields are used along train tracks, engines are regularly serviced, and careful measures are taken to contain noise levels during construction work.
It is time for us to learn from these examples, and put some of them into practice.
