PM orders stricter action to control vehicle horns in capital

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday ordered stricter enforcement to control the excessive use of vehicle horns in the capital.

He also stressed the need for swift and effective measures to curb air pollution caused by brick kilns and promote environment-friendly alternative technologies.

The prime minister made the directives at a meeting on environmental pollution held at the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday.

The meeting discussed various measures to prevent air and noise pollution, with particular emphasis on taking immediate steps to reduce air pollution caused by brick kilns and promoting environment-friendly technologies for brick production.

The meeting also discussed ways to control the excessive use of vehicle horns in Dhaka. In this regard, the prime minister directed law enforcement agencies to play a stricter role.

The participants also discussed the possible use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to control horns, similar to the AI cameras used in traffic management.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need for effective initiatives to quickly remove unfit, expired and pollution-causing buses, trucks and other vehicles from the capital's roads.

He also directed the authorities to launch automatic traffic light systems at at least 50 more points in the capital as soon as possible.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, State Minister Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Affairs Dr Md Saimum Parvez, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman and senior officials from various ministries and agencies were present at the meeting.