Dhaka sees overall noise decline, but sensitive areas record dangerous spikes

Image- Collected

A comparative survey of noise levels across 70 locations in Dhaka has found that overall sound levels have declined in much of the capital, while several hospitals, administrative areas and residential neighbourhoods have experienced significant increases.

The survey, conducted by the Department of Environment (DoE), compared noise data collected in 2022-2023 with baseline measurements from 2016-2017 across silent, residential, mixed, commercial and industrial zones.

According to the findings, improvements in traffic management and other structural changes have contributed to lower average maximum and minimum noise levels across much of the city. However, several sensitive locations recorded sharp increases.

The Bangladesh Secretariat area saw its maximum noise level rise to 126.5 decibels (dB), while its minimum background noise reached 72.1 dB.

Minimum noise levels also increased around several major medical facilities, including Mugda Medical College and Hospital, the area between the Child Health Institute & National Heart Foundation, and the stretch between PG Hospital and BIRDEM Hospital.

Director of DoE (Dhaka Metro) and project director Farid Ahmed said the comparison showed that the maximum noise level around the Bangladesh Secretariat was higher than in the previous survey. He also said minimum noise levels increased in several sensitive locations.

Residential areas also recorded higher background noise in places including Dhanmondi Road 5, Lalmatia, Gulshan Road 101, Khilgaon, Shahjahanpur and Eskaton in Shahbagh.

Raja Sreenath Street in Lalbagh and the Dholpur Road area in Jatrabari recorded increases in both minimum and maximum noise levels.

In mixed-use areas, maximum noise levels rose at locations such as the Jatrabari Shahid Faruk roundabout, Shankar, Dhanmondi and Shyamoli Mor. Background noise also increased around major commercial transit areas including English Road, Nawabpur, Sayedabad, Gulistan and Shantinagar.

The highest noise level recorded among the 64 districts surveyed was 129.4 dB at the Jatrabari Shahid Faruk roundabout in Dhaka.

Commercial areas generally experienced lower average noise levels, although Kakrail recorded an increase in maximum noise. Minimum background noise also rose at Motijheel's Shapla Chattar, Kakrail, in front of the Banglamotor BIP area and Mirpur's Benaroshi Palli.

Industrial areas showed mixed results. Maximum noise levels increased around Ceramic Road in Pallabi and Sat Rasta, while Hazaribagh recorded lower noise levels. The Orion Group area in Tejgaon saw a decline in maximum noise but an increase in minimum background noise.

The DoE's permissible limits are 50 dB during the day and 40 dB at night in silent zones, while residential areas have limits of 55 dB and 45 dB respectively. The limits for mixed, commercial and industrial areas are progressively higher.

Environmental experts said the findings highlight the need for stronger enforcement in specific areas, particularly around hospitals and residential neighbourhoods, along with stricter anti-honking measures and improved traffic routing around sensitive locations.