Spl anti-pollution joint drive begins in Dhaka

Staff Reporter :

A coordinated anti-pollution drive was conducted in various areas of Dhaka metropolis on Saturday under the leadership of the Department of Environment (DoE), with participation from BRTA, Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, RAJUK, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, RAB, BNCC, Bangladesh Scouts, Green Voice, Fire Service and Civil Defence, and several other agencies.

A total of 10 magistrate teams conducted mobile courts. Of these, the Department of Environment independently carried out operations through its own three magistrate teams.
Following the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2006, the Department of Environment conducted two mobile courts against noise pollution in the Engineers Institution Bangladesh (IEB) area and Uttara. In these drives, 11,000 BDT in fines were collected across 5 cases, and 12 hydraulic horns were seized. Several vehicle drivers were also issued cautionary notices.

Another mobile court, operated in the IEB area against excessive black smoke emissions from vehicles, collected 70,000 BDT in fines across 15 cases. Drivers of several smoke-emitting vehicles were cautioned, and the importance of environmentally friendly transportation was highlighted.

Under the Air Pollution (Control) Rules 2022, two mobile courts were conducted in the Bosila-Mohammadpur and Uttara Diabari areas in response to air pollution caused by construction materials. Through 8 cases, 155,000 BDT in fines were collected, and several nearby establishments were cautioned to take measures to prevent air pollution.

In another mobile court in Uttara, 19,000 BDT in fines were collected across 5 cases for violating Section 6(a) of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995 (amended 2010) by producing, selling, supplying, and marketing banned polythene. Marketplaces, supermarkets, and shop owners were made aware of the need to stop using banned polythene, and leaflets were distributed among the general public.

The Department of Environment has stated that such anti-pollution drives will continue regularly in Dhaka metropolis and throughout the country to protect public health and the environment.