Staff Correspondent

On the occasion of International Noise Awareness Day, the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change conducted mobile court drives against noise pollution across various districts of the country.These drives, conducted under the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006, led to the filing of 168 cases, resulting in fines totaling Tk 1 lakh 73 thousand 600 and the seizure of 265 hydraulic horns.A total of 31 mobile court operations were conducted in districts including Pirojpur, Panchagarh, Noakhali, Manikganj, Rangpur, Sunamganj, Bagerhat, Sherpur, Naogaon, Narayanganj, Thakurgaon, Shariatpur, Jashore, Kurigram, Gazipur, Sirajganj, Gaibandha, Cumilla, Magura, Bandarban, Jhenaidah, Gopalganj, Barguna, Natore, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Narsingdi, Khulna, Chuadanga, and Chapainawabganj. To mark the day, an awareness event was also organized by the Ministry at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital.

On the same day, another mobile court was conducted at Manik Mia Avenue and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar areas of Dhaka against black smoke emission. The operation led to 9 cases and fines amounting to Tk 29 thoudand while 8 vehicle drivers were cautioned.In Gazipur, a separate mobile court was conducted under the Air Pollution Control Rules, 2022. One case was filed with a fine of BDT 48 thousand and one institution was warned.In accordance with the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Amended 2010), 5 mobile court drives were carried out in Chandpur, Sunamganj, Pirojpur, and Feni districts against the illegal production, sale, supply, and marketing of banned polythene. The drives resulted in 9 cases, fines of BDT 28 thousand and the seizure of 385 kilograms of polythene. Several shop owners and members of the public were also made aware of the legal restrictions on polythene use.Meanwhile, in Pabna, Mymensingh, and Lakshmipur districts, 3 mobile courts were conducted against illegal brick kilns. The courts filed 12 cases and realized fines amounting to BDT 1.9 million. Additionally, chimneys and raw bricks of 6 brick kilns were demolished during the operations.The Department of Environment will continue such drives to control pollution. Public awareness and cooperation are vital to protecting the environment.