DoE identifies four new sources of noise pollution

The Department of Environment (DoE) has identified four additional sources of noise pollution in Bangladesh, including loud music and fireworks at recreational events, noise from commercial establishments, hand-held microphones used by beggars and hawkers, and announcements outside doctors' chambers, following a nationwide survey conducted in 64 district towns.

DoE Director (Dhaka Metro) Farid Ahmed told the media that excessive or unwanted noise from these activities could pose serious risks to public health and the environment.

The findings came from a survey titled 'Noise Level Measurement in 64 District Towns', conducted by the DoE in 2022-2023 and released recently.

The survey identified 25 major sources of noise pollution across the country. These include vehicle movements, hydraulic and conventional horns, traffic congestion, public announcements through loudspeakers, religious programmes, national and other observances, and DJ sound systems.

Other major contributors include horns of VIP vehicles, sirens of ambulances, fire service and police vehicles, social, political, cultural and official events, hooters, construction work, power tools and industrial activities.

Household appliances, motorcycles, frequent overtaking, excessive numbers of auto-rickshaws, nosimon and korimon vehicles, railway horns, tourist vehicles, narrow roads, ships and aircraft also contribute to the problem. Bus terminals, communication devices such as mobile phones, radios and televisions, and infrastructure development were also listed among the sources.

In Dhaka, the survey found particularly high noise levels at major traffic intersections and transit points in mixed-use areas. These include Jatrabari's Shahid Faruk roundabout, Shankar, Dhanmondi and Shyamoli Mor.

Persistent background noise was also recorded at busy commercial and transport hubs, including English Road, Nawabpur, Sayedabad, Gulistan and Shantinagar.

The highest recorded noise level among the 64 district towns was 129.4 decibels (dB), measured at the Shahid Faruk roundabout in Jatrabari, Dhaka.

The DoE has designated the Bangladesh Secretariat and surrounding areas, Agargaon, and areas around the Parliament building and Prime Minister's Office as silent zones. In September 2025, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) also declared Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan silent zones.

However, research has found that noise levels in several designated silent zones remain far above the permissible limits.

A March 2022 study by the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) at Stamford University Bangladesh found that the average noise level across four silent zones — the Secretariat, Agargaon, the Parliament area and the Prime Minister's Office area — stood at 97.63 decibels, nearly twice the permitted limit of 50 decibels.

The Secretariat recorded an average of 100.17 decibels, with the level peaking at 127 decibels. The average was 99.35 decibels in the Parliament area and 78.11 decibels in Agargaon, the quietest of the four locations.

Under DoE guidelines, the permissible noise levels vary according to the type of area. Silent zones have limits of 50 decibels during the day and 40 at night, while residential areas are allowed 55 and 45 decibels, respectively.

The limits for mixed-use areas are 60 decibels during the day and 50 at night. Commercial areas have limits of 70 and 60 decibels, while industrial areas are allowed 75 decibels during the day and 70 at night.

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During the survey, stakeholders recommended introducing a dedicated hotline to make it easier to report noise pollution and take legal action against offenders.

They also called for government rules specifying permissible sound levels and time limits for social, cultural, political and religious events, as well as reducing the movement of slow-moving vehicles and constructing service roads along highways to minimise traffic noise.

Other recommendations included stopping the illegal import and sale of hydraulic horns, restricting outdated vehicles, relocating industrial areas outside cities, setting noise limits for all types of vehicles and limiting the use of loudspeakers.

The stakeholders also stressed the need for stronger monitoring and effective enforcement of existing laws to control noise pollution.