Stop use of pneumatic horns in 48 hrs: HC

The High Court yesterday directed the authorities concerned of the government to take necessary steps in 48 hours to stop the use of pneumatic horns used by vehicles in Dhaka city.

In response to a writ petition, the court asked the authorities to submit a report before it in two weeks after complying with the directive. 

The HC ordered the government officials concerned to take effective steps to stop import of pneumatic horns and confiscate such horns from the markets in seven days and to submit a compliance report to this effect to the court in four weeks.

The officials are: inspector general of police, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), deputy inspector general of police (highways), joint commissioner (traffic) of DMP, and chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority.

The HC also asked the officials concerned to take steps so that no vehicles can run having pneumatic hydraulic horn or any device creating alarming noise, and to seize the vehicles with such horns after August 27.       

The officials, who are responsible for executing the directive, are: DMP commissioner, joint commissioner (traffic) of DMP, its deputy commissioners (traffic north, south, east and west) and officers-in-charge of Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Uttara, Motijheel, Shahbagh, Ramna, Rampura, Banani, Mirpur and Demra.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities to explain in four weeks why their inaction in stopping of pneumatic horns or any device creating alarming noise by the vehicles should not be declared illegal and why they should not be directed to stop the use of such devices.

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with order and rule after hearing a petition filed by rights organisation Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

The rights organisation submitted the petition challenging the legality of pneumatic horn use and seeking necessary orders to stop sound pollution in Dhaka city.

During hearing on the petition yesterday, petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid told the court that trucks and buses have been using pneumatic horns and other devices creating alarming noise and polluting environment at different areas in Dhaka city.

Even, people in different residential areas including Dhanmondi, Motijheel, Gulshan and Banani cannot sleep at night due to tremendous sounds of the pneumatic horns.

The lawyer also said as per Section 114 of Motor Vehicles Rules 1940 every transport vehicle shall be fitted with a bulb horn but using hydraulic (pneumatic) horn by the vehicles create severe alarming noise which causes pollution and health hazards of the citizens of Bangladesh specially children, students, old people and general commuters.

Deputy Attorney General Tapas Kumar Biswas represented the state. Mofiz Uddin Ahmed, joint commissioner (traffic-south) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police told The Daily Star that police would act on the directives given by the court.