HC bans hydraulic horns across country
STAFF REPORTER
The High Court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to take step to stop the use of hydraulic horns across the country including in the capital Dhaka.
It also directed the government to form a monitoring team across the country to control high levels of sound pollution in accordance with the environmental regulations and sound pollution control rules.
In response to a supplementary petition, the HC bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the directives.
The HC bench asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), DIG of police, chairman of BRTA and Joint Commissioner (Traffic) to comply with its order.
The Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed the supplementary petition seeking order to stop the use of hydraulic horns in vehicles across the country.
Earlier on August 23, the HC imposed a ban on hydraulic horns in Dhaka metropolitan city.
It also asked authorities concerned to confiscate every hydraulic horn on the market by next seven days. The court also asked the authorities concerned to seize vehicles if hydraulic horns are used after August 27. But the use of horns is yet to come down to an acceptable level in Dhaka.
At present, noise level in Dhaka city is estimated to be ranging between 60 dB and 100 dB. If the current situation continues, experts estimated that by the end of 2017, 50 per cent people of the city will lose the hearing power of 30 dB sounds.
