Galachipa representative
Most of the brick kilns in Galachipa are burning bricks with wood in violation of the law. Ignoring government instructions in different places, bricks are being burnt in three brick kilns next to local and educational institutions. The burning of bricks with wood in these brick kilns is polluting the environment. Thousands of people, including more than 600 students and teachers from three educational institutions are suffering.
One week after the administration demolished the brick kilns, the owners of these brick kilns have reopened them. Bricks are being burnt with wood at Sikder Bricks, Satata Bricks and Mayer Doa Brickfield.
According to the on-the-spot investigation, the brick kilns do not have clearance from the Department of Environment, Deputy Commissioner or any government department. In the densely populated area next to Saleha Khatun Dakhil Madrasa of Char Biswas Union, bricks have been illegally burning for eight years in Sikdar Bricks Field using wood with drum chimney.
About 2000 people live in the village around the brickyard. Smoke from burnt brick is polluting the environment. More than 200 students and teachers of the educational institutions are sufferings from the black smoke. Besides, many people around the area are also suffering due to the smoke coming out of the brick kiln. Ordinary people or teachers and students do not dare to protest.
In May 2019, the upazila administration demolished the brick kiln chimney of Sikder Bricks kiln due to lack of valid documents and closed the brick kiln by imposing a fine of Tk 1,10,000. After being closed for some time, in November 2021, Sikdar started burning bricks with wood illegally at Bricks Field again. On November 21, the locals along with the deputy commissioner and the upazila executive officer applied for closure of the brick kiln.
Kamrul Islam, manager of Sikder Brick kiln said they had all the paperwork to run the brick kiln but not one hundred percent. The owner of the kiln will be able to inform what documents he obtained.
Brick chimneys of Satata Bricks of Golkhali village in Golkhali union of the upazila and Mayer Doa Brick of Charvadai village were demolished. Galachipa Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md. NAzrul Islam in a mobile court fined the owner of these brick kiln owners a total of Tk 300000 in cash, including breaking two chimneys. But less than a week later, he started burning bricks with wood again.
Golkhali Messrs Satata Bricks partner Shahid Mir said, “We have made a fresh start this year. We have no valid paperwork to tell the truth. If the brick kiln closes, we will lose a lot of money.”
Mayer Doa Brick partner Md. Manju Dhali said, “We have been running at a loss for the last four years. I went to the Department of Environment this year. They talk about burning bricks in a whirlwind manner. We’re burning some bricks to get in the way.”
Regarding the loss of children when bricks were burnt next to the primary school, he said, “There is no possibility of damage from where our furnace is. Even after that, if the administration says so, we will move one hundred feet further.”
In this regard, Sheikh Mehedi, Assistant Director, Department of Environment, Patuakhali District Office, said, “Illegal burning of bricks with wood causes environmental catastrophe, so the chimneys of three brick kilns are demolished by a mobile court.”
Galachipa Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Md. Nazrul Islam said, “Three brick kilns were operating illegally. They have no documents other than land deeds. Upon receiving the news, we raided the mobile court and smashed three brick kiln chimneys and fined cash. I got the news of burning bricks again in these brick kilns. We will take tough action again.”
