The High Court has ordered the authorities concerned to demolish all illegal brick kilns in four districts--Bogura, Tangail, Lalmonirhat and Thakurgaon.
The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Md Shohrowardi on Monday (November 7) directed the Department of Environment (DoE) to comply with this order and submit a report within the next seven days.
The HC bench also issued a ruling seeking to know as to why the inaction of the authorities concerned in closing the brickfields should not be declared illegal.
A total of 24 people, including secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, director general of the DoE, DoE’s officials concerned of Bogura, deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) of the four districts--Bogura, Tangail, Lalmonirhat and Thakurgaon--were made respondents to the rule. They were asked to respond within four weeks.
The HC bench has also asked the authority concerned to make a complete list of all illegal brick kilns in the country and submit the list within the next two weeks. The order came from the higher court after hearing on the writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). The writ was filed on November 6 following a report published in a daily in this regard.
President of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) Manzil Morshed confirmed the matter.
Despite the existence of provisions that no brickfield can be constructed without licence, illegal building of such infrastructure continues in the country.
Manzil Morshed said that no brickfield can be set up and operated without licence as per the Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act. “Despite this law, several newspapers reported that illegal brickfields were starting operations in some districts ahead of the winter season,” he added.
