International Noise Awareness Day has been celebrated on Wednesday of April every year in different countries of the world since 1996.
This day has been celebrated in Bangladesh since 2003. In line with this, this year too, the day has been officially celebrated on the last Wednesday of April, April 30, by organizing a coordinated and participatory project to control noise pollution being implemented by the Department of Environment.
The Department of Environment organized a huge gathering and rally at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka to mark the day. About five hundred representatives of various environmental organizations, especially Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA), BELLA, CAPS, Green Voice, Green Savers, Youthnet Global, Gulshan Society, Dhanmondi Society, Bangladesh Scouts, Bangladesh Girls Guide, and 27 organizations were present at the event.
The chief guest of the day celebration at 10 am at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, inaugurated the day`s celebration.
He said, noise pollution is a silent killer. We should all behave consciously and responsibly on behalf of the state, institutions and individuals. Only then will it be possible to build a healthy, peaceful and sustainable Bangladesh.
Farid Ahmed, Director of the Department of Environment, Dhaka Metropolitan City and Project Director of the Integrated and Participatory Project on Noise Pollution Control, delivered the welcome speech at the gathering. The attendees emphasized that public awareness should be maintained in controlling noise pollution as well as proper implementation of the law. At the same time, the public was called upon to come forward along with the government in controlling noise pollution.
Among others, Masud Iqbal Md. Shamim, Director of the Environmental Clearance Branch of the Department of Environment, Abul Kalam Azad, Director of the Dhaka Region of the Department of Environment, also spoke.
In addition, Alamgir Kabir, General Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA), Dr. Kamruzzaman Majumder, Director of Work for a Better Bangladesh Gaus Peary, Environment Affairs Secretary of Dhanmondi Society Tarek Rahman, etc. Around the day, rallies and discussion meetings were held at the departmental level in the presence of representatives of different classes and professions across the country organized by the Department of Environment.
In addition, the Department of Environment, in collaboration with the district administrations across the country, has simultaneously conducted mobile courts to control noise pollution.
Besides, on the occasion of the day, awareness-raising colorful advertisements have been published in the country`s leading Bengali and English national dailies highlighting the importance of the day.
The short message "Noise pollution is a health hazard. Let`s all be aware - Department of Environment" has been sent to five lakh mobile users.
-Press Release
