RAJSHAHI, Oct 25, 2021 (BSS) – Health experts and academicians stressed the
need for forging social resistance to fight against the sound pollution to
save people from being infected with various physical and mental disorders.

   They came up with the importance while addressing a training workshop for
the students in tackling noise pollution at Rajshahi College auditorium
yesterday afternoon.

   The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the training session in
association with its Integrated and Partnership in Controlling Sound
Pollution Project.

  Commissioner of Rajshahi division Dr Humayun Kabir addressed the workshop
as chief guest with Rajshahi College Principal Prof Abdul Khaleque in the
chair.

  Professor Dr Asadur Rahman from the Department of Ear Nose and Throat in
Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital and Prof Abul Kalam Azad from the
Institute of Environmental Sciences in Rajshahi University presented two
keynote papers.

   DoE Additional Director General Humayun Kabir, Divisional Director of the
Directorate of Health Services Dr Habibul Ahsan Talukder, Additional Deputy
Inspector General of Police Joydeb Bhadra and Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi
Metropolitan Police Anirban Chakma also spoke.

  The meeting was told that sound pollution is the main reason behind 30
major diseases in the human body and around five percent of the population is
affected physically and mentally by the pollution.

   It was also informed that the project aims to highlight the noise
pollution issue by measuring its effects on children and to raise awareness
and develop a strategy paper on possible interventions.

  It also aims to align stakeholders - including local government, people and
NGOs - with the issue.

  In his remarks, Dr Humayun Kabir said sound pollution causes multifarious
physical and mental disorders of people. Utmost emphasis should be given on
creating mass-awareness with full-length enforcement of the existing laws to
protect public health from the adverse effects of sound pollution, he said.

   Mentioning that excessive traffic noise disrupts people's lives, he said:
"Now, it's the time to forge social resistance against noise pollution for a
sustainable socio-economic development. We should build safe havens for the
future generations."

  Earlier in the morning, the DoE organized a similar training workshop for
the imams and khatibs at Imam Training Academy auditorium so that they can
contribute to minimise sound pollution.