Health experts and administrative officials unanimously stressed the need for forging social resistance to fight against noise pollution to save people from being infected with various physical and mental disorders. Noise pollution is the main reason behind 30 major diseases in the human body and around five percent of the population is affected physically and mentally by the pollution. They came up with the importance while addressing a post-rally meeting related to the issue here today. The Department of Environment (DoE) and the divisional and district administrations jointly organized the meeting held at the office conference hall of the Divisional Commissioner to mark International Sound Awareness Day 2024. The main theme of the day this year is "understand the dangers of loud music, sounds and hearing loss". Associate Professor Dr Subrata Ghosh from the Department of Ear Nose and Throat of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital illustrated the demerits of noise pollution during his keynote presenta tion. He said noise pollution causes multifarious physical and mental disorders of people. Utmost emphasis should be given to creating mass-awareness with full-length enforcement of the existing laws to protect public health from the adverse effects of sound pollution, he said. Mentioning that excessive traffic noise disrupts people's lives, he said: "Now, it's the time to forge social resistance against noise pollution for a sustainable socio-economic development. We should build safe havens for the future generations." Commissioner of Rajshahi division Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir addressed the discussion as chief guest, while DoE Divisional Director Ahsan Habib was in the chair. Additional Commissioners Imtiaz Hossain and Tarafder Akhter Jamil, Director of Local Government Parvez Raihan, Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Syeed Muhammad Faruque, Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Hemayetul Islam and Editor of Daily Sonar Desh Akbarul Hassan Millat also spoke disseminating their expertise on t he issue. In his remarks, Dr Dewan Humayun Kabir said many people suffer a lot due to sound pollution. So, all the authorities and individuals concerned should come forward and work together to reduce sound pollution. He said the existing laws related to controlling sound pollution should be enforced and the drivers should drive their vehicles abiding by the law to check sound pollution for the greater interest of public health. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha