Noise pollution in Dhaka city is currently three times more than tolerable level and as a result around half a crore people are at health risk, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Mohammad Shahab Uddin said at a programme today.

He also said, necessary steps will be taken to enact new laws by amending the existing one in order to keep the "silent zones" declared in the nine city corporation areas free from noise pollution.

The minister was speaking from his residence in the capital at a virtual workshop organised by the Department of Environment on the occasion of International Noise Awareness Day-2021.

He said "silent zones" were declared at all nine city corporations where hospitals, educational institutions and administrative areas are situated.

"Various agencies including Department of Environment, Police, City Corporation, BRTA will work together to ensure all silent zones are free from noise," he added.

The minister said the Dhaka South City Corporation has been contacted to implement silent zone area around the secretariat. This project will be implemented after the Covid-19 pandemic comes under control or normalises.

The minister said according to the World Health Organization, 1.1 billion people (aged 12-35) are at risk of hearing loss due to their involvement in excessively noisy recreational activities.

He called upon the people to be aware of the various harmful effects of noise pollution as well as to make others aware to lead a quality life.

Deputy Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Secretary Ziaul Hasan, former vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Prof Pran Gopal Dutta, among others also spoke at the workshop chaired by Md Moniruzzaman, Director General of Department of Environment.