He made the remarks while inaugurating a workshop on the integrated and participatory project as the chief guest. It was organised by the Department of Environment (DoE).

The project involves collecting public opinion and carrying out various awareness programmes. Director General of DoE Rafique Ahammed chaired the programme.

Shahab Uddin said the BRTA registers about 300,000-400,000 new vehicles every year and noted that the increasing number of vehicles raises noise pollution by about 55 percent.

Mentioning that excessive traffic noise disrupts people’s lives, he said, “Now is the time to build resistance against noise pollution for a sustainable socio-economic development. We should build safe havens for the future generations.”

Speaking as the special guest, Environment Secretary Ziaul Hasan NDC said that the project would help raise public awareness about noise pollution through this project.

Additional Director General of DoE & Project Director Md Humayn Kabir said 95,200 people from the broad spectrum of society will be imparted sound awareness training under the integrated and participatory project on noise pollution control.

There will also be a series of programmes on television channels and radio, various electronic and print media, mobile phones and social media to broadcast TVC, text messages and notifications as well, he said.

Also, 128 billboards and 60 signboards, 700,000 leaflets, 700,000 stickers, 1,000 folders and 1,000 training manuals will be printed and distributed to raise awareness.

Approximately 2,000 mobile courts and joint operations will be carried out across the country in this regard, Kabir said.

A round-the-clock online monitoring of noise levels and roadside displays will be set up in certain areas on an experimental basis, he added.