Integrated drive enforces silent zone in secretariat area

Staff Reporter :

A coordinated campaign to implement silent zones was held near High Court’s Mazar Gate on Tuesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), and the Department of Environment.

The event featured a brief assembly with Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan as the chief guest.

She highlighted the Noise Pollution Control Rules, 2025, which empower police to impose immediate fines.
“Since granting police this authority, we’ve been conducting these integrated drives. Last month, we inaugurated one near the airport,” she said. Hasan expressed hope that post-election collaboration between police and the environment department could free the public from noise pollution’s “tyranny.”

She added that the interim government enacted the 2025 rules, enabling effective noise control measures.
Silent zones declared in Dhaka will be enforced by the new government after elections, she noted.

“Strict enforcement of the law can control noise pollution and unnecessary honking to a great extent. Unnecessary honking is not just annoying, it’s a punishable offense.”

Other attendees included Department of Environment Director General Dr. Nurun Nahar, DSCC Administrator Mahmudul Hasan NDC, BRTA Chairman Abu Momtaz Saduddin Ahmed, ministry Additional Secretary Mohammad Nabid Shafiullah, DMP Additional Commissioner (Admin) Sarwar BPM (Retd.), DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Anichur Rahman, Additional DG of Environment Jiaul Haque, and project director Farid Ahmed of the noise pollution control initiative. Senior officials from the involved agencies were also present.
Following discussions, mobile courts operated at four points in the declared silent zone, led by executive magistrates and prosecutors from the four agencies.

Over 100 DMP officers, traffic police aides (TAG), and 60 Green Voice volunteers assisted in fining violators.
Officials confirmed the integrated campaign against noise pollution will continue unabated.