Environment ministry urges people not to use fireworks on New Year’s Eve
Staff Correspondent
The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has reminded revellers that the unauthorised use of fireworks and firecrackers on New Year’s Eve, Dec 31 is a punishable offence, urging people to refrain from such activities.
The ministry made the call in a press release on Friday.
The ministry said that using fireworks on the last night of the English calendar year adds to the existing noise and air pollution. It was previously reported that a child suffering from heart disease died when they were scared by the sound of fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Excessive noise can also lead to a number of physical and mental health problems, including hearing and memory loss, sleep disturbance, anxiety, irritability, high blood pressure, ringing in the ears, dizziness, increased risk of heart disease, mental instability, stroke, and increased risk of heart attacks, the statement said.
Under the circumstances, the ministry requested everyone to refrain from such illegal activities that are harmful to public health and biodiversity on Dec 31 and sought everyone's cooperation.
The notice stated that the unauthorised use of fireworks violates Section 7 of the Noise Pollution (Control) Act, 2006 and is a punishable offence under Section 18.
The law states that for the first offence, the punishment could be up to one month in prison, a fine of Tk 5,000 or less, or both. Any subsequent offence is punishable by a prison sentence of up to six months, a fine of up to Tk 10,000, or both.
