HC asks about steps to stop hydraulic horns use

The High Court (HC) has directed six authorities concerned asking what steps have been taken to stop the use of hydraulic horns responsible for noise pollution.

The court also asked for the updates of directives regarding night surveillance on some streets in the capital.

The HC Bench of Justice Govinda Chandra Tagore and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order on Thursday after hearing an appeal.

Six authorities concerned, including the chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authorities (BRTA), have been directed to submit a report in the form of an affidavit within two weeks.

Lawyer Manzil Morshed, who was in favour of the application in the court, said the writ petition was filed in the public interest on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, challenging the inaction of the defendants to stop the hydraulic horn responsible for noise pollution.

The HC ruled in 2017 on the hearing of the writ petition, he added.

He further said noise pollution was controlled a lot after those instructions but later the noise pollution increased again. Therefore, an application has been made to the court in this regard.

The HC then directed the Joint Commissioner (Traffic), BRTA Chairman, Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) North, South, East and West to stop the use of hydraulic horns within two weeks as directed by the court, and to submit a report of what steps have been taken regarding the instructions to keep the supervision team at night on Kakrail-VIP Road-Mogbazar, Motsho Bhaban-Shahbagh-Science Lab to Gabtoli route, he added.

Manzil Morshed said 8 March has been set for the next order.