“People on their way home stop by to stand by my side, silently holding my placards on the road even though they don’t know me. This is a sign of a positive change.”Photos of his silent protest have been shared thousands of times on social media, attracting many supportive comments.
According to the World Health Organisation, the maximum noise level that can be tolerated by humans for eight hours without some loss of hearing over time is 85 decibels.
In Dhaka, home to 18 million people and more than a million registered motor vehicles, the sounds of honking can reach 110 decibels during peak hours, according to a 2017 environment department study.Heavy construction and loudhailers used for political and religious events add to the din that has contributed to Dhaka being regularly ranked as one of the world’s least livable cities.
Around 12 percent of Bangladesh’s 165 million population suffer from hearing problems due to noise pollution, the study found.
“The number of traffic (policemen) coming to the hospital with hearing problems every week has become a major concern for us,” Bangladesh police spokesman Sohel Rana told AFP.
The government has passed anti-honking laws with culprits facing up to six months’ imprisonment.But the rules are weakly enforced and even illegal ear-splitting police and ambulance horns are used by ordinary drivers.
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