A rally advocating for civic awareness about noise pollution and the hazards of hydraulic horns was held in Barisal city on Saturday.
The event began and ended at the Euro Convention Centre, with participants marching through several main roads of the city, distributing informational leaflets about the harmful effects of hydraulic horns at local shops and important institutions.
Organized by the Multiparty Advocacy Forum, the rally featured speeches by senior joint convener Moazzem Hossain Chunnu, AKM Mostafa, Hafiz Ahmed Bablu, and other members. Participants included youths from various organizations, traffic department officials, and representatives from Democracy International Bangladesh.
Notable attendees included Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Director Ziaur Rahman, Barisal Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Latif, district BNP Member Secretary (South) Abul Kalam Shaheen, district Awami League General Secretary Talukdar Md Yunus, district Jatiya Party Convener AKM Murtza Abedin, Barisal Reporters Unity Joint Secretary Mushfiq Sourav, and Press Club General Secretary Zakir Hossain.
Speakers at the rally highlighted the safety risks posed by hydraulic horns and called for discouraging their sale and use to ensure a safe and clean environment. Despite being legally banned in Bangladesh, hydraulic horns continue to be used, causing serious health problems, particularly in children.
According to World Health Organization standards, sound levels above 60dB can cause temporary deafness, and levels above 100dB can cause hearing impairment. Belal Hossain, a doctor at Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, emphasized the mental and physical health risks associated with excessive noise, including deafness, heart disease, loss of appetite, increased blood pressure, and inability to concentrate.
The rally concluded with a call for the effective implementation of the ban on hydraulic horns to protect public health and the environment.
