In Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, hospital areas expose to intolerable levels of noise pollution.
The Dhaka city’s residential areas now face unbearable levels of noise pollution. On working days, recorded a maximum decibel level of 89.9 in front of the capital’s hospital.
Although there is a noise pollution control policy in Bangladesh, the situation is not changing, but it worsens day by day.
A study conducted by the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) has revealed such information in a webinar. CAPS and EQMS Consulting Limited jointly organized the webinar.
Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar, the CAPS founder, and chairman, presented the research report on the event.
As per the report of CAPS, after setting up an automated sound measurement machine near 17 hospitals, the noise level recording continued for 1 hour. The location was Dhanmondi residential area, and the researcher recorded the Noise during a working day.
The highest noise level was 89.9 decibels in front of Central Hospital Limited at Dhanmondi, Dhaka. Moreover, the Bangladesh Medical College Hospital area at Dhanmondi has the lowest noise level (69.7 decibels)
However, according to the Bangladesh Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2006, the area adjacent to the hospital is considered a quiet area. The estimated daytime noise levels in quiet and residential areas are 50 and 55 decibels, respectively.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has described 71 to 90 decibels as intense and above 90 decibels as severe noise pollution.
Professor Gulshan Ara called for working together to prevent noise pollution. Sharif Jamil, General Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), said, ”Alternative measures should adopt before banning the use of hydraulic horns. An adequate database for noise pollution research needs to maintain and made available to the public. We need government initiative in this regard.”
Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Professor of the Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, said, “The animals left the area due to excessive Noise which disrupts the pollination and reproduction of plants in the area.”
To prevent noise pollution, CAPS presented 10 point proposal including 100% implementation of Noise Pollution (Control) Rules,2006, recruitment of environmental cadre and environmental police under Bangladesh Civil Service.
