DoE identifies four new sources of noise pollution

During the latest survey of the DoE, the four new sources of noise pollution - recreational activities (loud music, fireworks and sporting events), commercial activities (loud noise form restaurant, community centre, bars, and clubs), beggars' and hawkers' hand mike and doctor chamber's announcement - were identified, DoE director (Dhaka Metro) Farid Ahmed told BSS.

The DoE conducted the survey on 'noise level measurement in 64 district towns' in 2022-2023 and its findings were released recently.

The survey reveals 25 major sources of noise pollution in the country, which include vehicles movements, hydraulic horn/ usual horn, traffic congestion, miking, religious events, day observance and DJ sound box, VIP vehicles horns, ambulance, fire service and police vehicles siren, social, political, cultural, government and non-government events, hooter sound, construction activities, power tools and industrial activities.

Besides, household appliance, motorcycle/ bikes, overtaking of vehicles, excessive auto rickshaws, nosimon and korimon, railroads horns, tourist vehicles and bikes, narrow road structures, ships, aircraft, excessive bus terminal, communication devices (cell phones, radio, televisions) and infrastructural development have been contributing to noise pollution as the major sources.

In mixed-use zones in Dhaka, major transit bottlenecks saw peak maximum noise levels climb. Notable areas include the Jatrabari Shahid Faruk roundabout, Shankar, Dhanmondi, and the Shyamoli Mor area. Constant background noise also increased across heavy commercial transit points, including English Road, Nawabpur, Sayedabad, Gulistan, and Shantinagar.

The survey reveals that the maximum noise level in 64 districts was 129.4 decibel (dB) at Jatrabari Shahid Faruk roundabout area in Dhaka.

The Bangladesh Secretariat and its surrounding area, Agargaon, and areas around Parliament and the Prime Minister's Office have been designated as silent zones by DoE, while Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) declared Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan as silent zones in September 2025.

However, a study shows that at least four of the city's silent zones have noise levels far above the permissible limits.

In March 2022, a team of Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) at Stamford University Bangladesh found that the combined average noise level in four silent zones -- the Secretariat, Agargaon, and areas around Parliament and the PMO -- was 97.63 decibels, nearly double the permissible limit of 50 decibels.

The Secretariat averaged 100.17 decibels, with noise peaking at 127 decibels. The Parliament area averaged 99.35 decibels, while Agargaon -- the quietest of the four areas -- averaged 78.11 decibels.

Permissible sound limits set by the DoE are: 50 dB (daytime) and 40 dB (nighttime) in silent zone, 55 dB (daytime) and 45 dB (nighttime) in residential area, 60 dB (daytime) and 50 dB (nighttime) in mixed area (residential/commercial/industrial), 70 dB (daytime) and 60 dB (nighttime) in commercial area, and 75 dB (daytime) and 70 dB (nighttime) in industrial area.

During the DoE survey, stakeholders recommended launching a noise pollution control hotline service so that noise polluters can be easily sued through this service, setting up sound level and tine duration of all social, cultural, political and religious events under the government laws and reducing movements of slow-moving vehicles, and constructing service roads along highways to reduce noise pollution.

They also recommended stopping illegal import of hydraulic horns and the marketing of hydraulic horns, restricting outdated vehicles, shifting industrial areas from the city to other areas, setting the noise level decibel limit for all vehicles, and limiting the use of loudspeakers and proper monitoring and implementation of laws to check noise pollution, reports BSS.