Patients in hospitals across the capital are suffering due to constant honking of cars and sound pollution.

According to the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, a 100-metre area near hospitals, schools, courts and similar areas are quiet zones.  Despite that, drivers honk horns continuously, blatantly violating the law.

Recently, the government declared the Secretariat area as a ‘no-horn zone.’ The zone includes, Zero Point, Paltan intersection, Secretariat Link Road and honking in designated quiet zones will lead to a jail term up to one month or Tk 5,000 fine or both for first time offenders and up to six months in jail or Tk 10,000 fine or both for similar offences.

Poribesh Bachao movement Joint Secretary Dr Lelin Chowdhury, sees the Secretariat being made a ‘no-horn zone’ before ensuring the hospital and school areas were, as “completely unacceptable.”

Two of the largest hospitals in Dhaka, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital and BIRDEM Hospital are located in Shahbag, one of the busiest zones in the city. Drivers blatantly honk horns in these areas without any regard to the hospitals.

An Environment Department survey revealed that as a many as 19 horns are honked per minute in Shahbag and continues throughout the day.

Rowshan Ara Hossain, a patient at BSMMU says that being in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was better than being shifted to the ward due to the unbearable din near the area.

Rafi, whose father is undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) echoed, saying, “It’s the cars and buses during the day and trucks at night. It’s a horrible experience.”

Social platform Work for Better Bangladesh works with sound pollution says that in several spots within the Dhaka, the sound intensity is one-and-half times more than the acceptable level.

The table shows the sound intensity in some areas in Dhaka:

BSMMU Vice Chancellor Dr Kanak Kanti Barua says that the din caused by honking is especially painful for patients who are undergoing treatment for a cardiac arrest or stroke.

Meanwhile, former director of National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dr Afzalur Rahman says, “Even in a country such as Bhutan where there are zigzagging roads beneath the mountains, no one honks the horns let alone in the developed countries.”

He added that restrictions similar to those in the Secretariat area should be imposed near hospitals.

DMCH Director AKM Nasir Uddin said that ensuring that hospitals become ‘no-horn zones’ will be beneficial for both the environment and patients.

“There are often many programs near the hospital. Moreover, the university is just nearby, so the noises reach the hospitals,” he said.

BIRDEM doctor Saklain Russel, who had to sound-proof his chambers said that added to the honking of horns are the meetings and programs held at Shurawardy Uddyan and Shahbag.

Saying that these create a terrifying situation of their own for the patients, he added, “There is no environment to treat patients here.”

Environment Department Assistant Director Md Saiful Asrab said that although hospitals are designated quiet zones, the rules are being ignored.

Saying that it’s everyone’s duty including the city corporation, district administration, police to ensure that the rules are followed, he conceded that the environment department was not being able to completely do their part.

“The Environment Department has a few limitations and budget issues,” he said and added that it’s much more difficult to implement the laws if the people are not aware.