For Sakibur Rahman of Nij Khamar, the journey to a coaching centre in Gallamari is supposed to be part of his preparation for a job. Instead, the daily commute has become a battle with noise.
“When I am stuck in traffic or waiting in a queue of vehicles, the sudden honking of easy-bikes or motorcycles makes me irritable and causes temporary mental discomfort,” he told TIMES.
For honours student Asiya Chowdhury of Khulna Pioneer Government Girls’ College, the problem is equally familiar.
“Whether three-wheelers or two-wheelers, vehicles keep honking to overtake. Even when stuck in traffic, drivers keep making noise, which makes me restless. Sometimes I get headaches,” she said.
Once known as a relatively quiet city, Khulna has seen noise levels rise well beyond what residents can reasonably tolerate. Doctors say the number of people seeking treatment for ear-related problems has also increased.
Motorcycles and other vehicles frequently sound loud horns, while battery-powered rickshaws often carry shrill horns. Loudspeaker announcements and microphone use add to the din.
The consequences can extend beyond annoyance. Experts warn that excessive noise can pose serious risks to children, pregnant women and people with heart disease, with children particularly vulnerable.
Noise levels breach limits
A 2016 Department of Environment report recorded noise levels of 60 to 76 decibels at different locations in Khulna. In August this year, the level recorded in Daulatpur reached 87 decibels, compared with 77 decibels a year earlier.
Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, assistant director of the Department of Environment’s Khulna office, told TIMES of Bangladesh that the average noise level in the city is now around 80 decibels, most of it generated by road traffic.
The World Health Organisation recommends keeping road-traffic noise below 53 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
Bangladesh’s Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2025 set maximum daytime levels of 60 decibels in mixed areas and 70 decibels in commercial areas. The limit for industrial areas is 75 decibels.
The cost to hearing
Mohammad Mohsin, former head of the ENT department at Khulna Medical College Hospital, said the human ear can generally tolerate noise of up to about 70 decibels.
“Noise above that level can damage or displace the tiny bones inside the ear, potentially causing permanent deafness or hearing loss,” he said.
He also said the number of patients seeking treatment for ear problems had increased compared with the past, attributing the situation largely to unnecessary motorcycle honking and banned hydraulic horns.
Babul Hawladar, coordinator of the Khulna district unit of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), said indiscriminate honking reflected a lack of awareness among drivers.
“Drivers need to be made aware of this during their training, while strict action must also be taken,” he said.
Khulna Metropolitan Police Traffic Division Deputy Commissioner Safiqul Islam said cases are filed when vehicles fitted with hydraulic horns are identified.
He said action is also taken during regular checks when motorcycles or cars are found using excessively loud horns or modified silencers that generate additional noise.
