With the theme “No more noise pollution, we want a healthy life”, International Noise Awareness Day 2026 was observed nationwide through various programs. The day is observed globally on the last Wednesday of April every year. Following this, on Wednesday, April 29, under the ‘Integrated and Participatory Project on Noise Pollution Control’ of the Department of Environment (DoE) and with the cooperation of various environmental organizations, discussion meetings, rallies, and mobile courts were simultaneously conducted across 64 districts of the country. Creating public awareness about the silent and severe health risks of noise pollution was the main objective of this year’s event.
On this occasion, a central discussion meeting was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and the Department of Environment at the auditorium of Poribesh Bhaban in the capital at 10 am that day. Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam, Honorable Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was present as the chief guest. In his speech, he said that since noise pollution is invisible, ordinary people do not give much importance to its harmful effects, yet its health risks are severe. He emphasized that everyone should be aware from their respective positions to prevent noise pollution and stressed running awareness campaigns on social media. The event was chaired by Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Secretary in routine charge of the Ministry of Environment, and was attended by representatives of a total of 18 organizations, including the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and Bangladesh Scouts.
Alongside awareness, the strict application of laws to control noise pollution was also emphasized at the event. Marking the day, the Department of Environment conducted mobile courts simultaneously across the country. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) of DMP Md. Anisur Rahman stated that since being empowered under the Noise Pollution Control Rules, the DMP traffic division has so far filed 17,000 cases and collected nearly Tk 2 crore in fines. Besides, to increase awareness, banners were hung on foot overbridges of important roads in Dhaka city, festoons were displayed at visible places, and advertisements were published in national daily newspapers.
