Gulshan Observes ‘No Horn, No Dust’

A brief yet striking road-safety and environmental awareness initiative was held on Tuesday afternoon at Gulshan-2 intersection in the capital, as traffic authorities organised a one-minute symbolic silence under the banner ‘No Horn, No Dust’. The programme, conducted at 4:20 pm, aimed to draw public attention to the growing problems of noise pollution, air pollution and undisciplined driving behaviour in one of Dhaka’s busiest residential and commercial zones.

The initiative was organised by the Gulshan Traffic Division, which temporarily brought traffic to a halt by displaying red signals simultaneously in all four directions—north, south, east and west—at the Gulshan-2 traffic junction. During this pause, drivers of incoming vehicles were politely requested to step out of their cars and observe one minute of silence as a gesture of awareness and collective responsibility.

Motorists responded positively and participated voluntarily, reflecting a rare moment of calm and cooperation on a typically congested city road. Participants were handed placards bearing the message ‘No Horn, No Dust!’, reinforcing the campaign’s core objective: discouraging unnecessary horn use and promoting cleaner, more civilised road practices.

Traffic officials explained that excessive honking not only contributes to noise pollution but also heightens stress levels among drivers and pedestrians, increases the risk of road rage, and undermines overall traffic discipline. Similarly, dust from poorly maintained roads and construction sites significantly worsens air quality, affecting public health—particularly children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.

The ‘No Horn, No Dust’ campaign is part of a broader, ongoing collaborative effort between the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the traffic department to improve road discipline, cleanliness and environmental standards across the Gulshan Division. The initiative covers Gulshan, Banani, Niketan and surrounding areas, where awareness drives, mobile court operations and routine monitoring are being carried out to curb indiscriminate horn use and encourage proper waste management.

Officials emphasised that the one-minute silence was purely symbolic, yet powerful in its message. By momentarily stopping traffic and engaging drivers directly, the programme sought to instil a sense of civic duty and remind citizens that small behavioural changes can collectively make a significant difference.

The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner of Traffic (Gulshan Division) Mizanur Rahman, along with other senior officials and approximately 150 members of the Traffic Assistant Group (TAG). Speaking on the occasion, officials reiterated their commitment to continuing similar awareness initiatives in the future, noting that enforcement alone is not sufficient without public cooperation and understanding.

Below is a summary of key details related to the programme:

Traffic officials expressed hope that such initiatives would gradually help foster a culture of patience, respect and environmental consciousness among road users, contributing to a quieter, cleaner and safer urban environment for all.