Staff Correspondent 

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has urged everyone to work together to control air and noise pollution.

 Speaking as the chief guest, he emphasized that collective cooperation from public and private institutions, relevant agencies, and the general public is crucial to managing noise pollution effectively.

The minister made this call on Sunday  at the closing workshop of the "Integrated and Participatory Project to Control Noise Pollution," organized by the Department of Environment (DoE) in the capital's Agargaon area.

Addressing the gathering, the minister stressed the importance of raising public awareness regarding the escalating health risks associated with noise pollution. He noted that excessive noise can trigger various physical and mental complications, including headaches, hearing loss, irritability, lack of concentration, and insomnia.

Highlighting that noise pollution cannot be eradicated completely through a single project alone, the minister underscored the necessity of active participation from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Bangladesh Police, all relevant institutions, and the public. 

Abdul Awal Mintoo also revealed that initiatives are underway to designate and implement various locations as "silent zones" on a pilot basis. Currently, areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan, as well as the road stretch from La Méridien Hotel to Uttara Scholastica Secondary School in front of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, have been declared silent zones. 

Presided over by DoE Director General Dr. Md. Lutfar Rahman, the workshop was attended by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Md. Raihan Kaosar, BRTA Director (Operations) Mir Ahmed Tariqul Omar, and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md. Anisur Rahman. Senior officials from the ministry and the department, representatives from various non-governmental organizations, and media professionals were also present.

Following the workshop, the minister formally unveiled the "Survey reports on Noise Level Measurement in 64 Districts Town".