The natural environment in Raozan upazila of Chattogram is being destroyed by the illegal brick kilns built in various areas of the upazila. For nearly 20 years, these brick kilns have been causing air pollution and harming the environment.
Moreover, large-scale illegal hill cutting is also taking place in the upazila to supply soil in these brick kilns, further adding to the destruction of the environment.
When this correspondent visited the area, it was seen that there are 32 brick kilns in in Ailikheel, Dabua Melua, Purbo Raozan, Rashidarpur, Wahedul Kheel, and Brikshabanpur areas under ward No. 9 and in Brindaban area under Haldia union in the upazila. There are three more brick kilns at the bank of Halda River. Among them, sic brick kilns make bricks by burning coal and the rest of them use wood from the forest, causing significant damage to the environment. It was alleged that influential leaders of the previous government established these brick kilns by taking advantage of their power, without regard for any regulations from the administration or the Department of Environment.
There are complaints that, bricks have been produced in these kilns by burning valuable trees from reserved and privately owned forests for the past 15 years. During this period, individuals identifying as leaders and workers of the Awami League have been illegally extracting soil from the hills, hillsides, and agricultural land in Raozan. The soil taken from the hills and agricultural land has been used for brick production in the kilns, as well as to fill ponds and water bodies in various areas of Raozan by members of a soil-extraction syndicate. Large-scale cutting of hills, hillsides, and agricultural land is still ongoing, and the illegal hill cutting begins every evening.
The owners of the brick kilns are also preparing to set up new kilns this year and have started cleaning the existing ones.
Local trees and firewood are being used in most of the brick kilns in Raozan to make bricks production. To make bricks, soils from agricultural land and hills are being extracted without any consideration for the environment. This is destroying the forest and putting the agricultural sector at risk, while also polluting the environment. The illegal kilns have been operating for years with the administration being managed and influenced. Local residents called for action against these harmful kilns, voicing their concerns about the situation.
Researchers said that establishing brick kilns in hilly areas is disrupting the ecological balance. They also claimed that the presence of these kilns is not only causing air pollution but also leading to the disappearance of hills in these regions.
It was learnt that Adviser to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, already issued directives regarding this matter. The Chattogram district administration has started the process of taking effective measures in this regard.
According to the information provided by Chattorgam Department of Environment there are over 350 brick kilns in Chattogram, of which at least three hundred do not have any legal permits. The highest number of brick kilns is found in Raozan and Rangunia upazilas of Chattogram.
Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that all brick kilns operating without environmental clearance will be shut down, and no new brick kilns will be approved. Following this announcement, the Chattogram District Administration has also begun the process of shutting down illegal brick kilns.
The Department of Environment and the Chattogram district administration conducted a joint drive on October 9, and fined a total of Tk 180,000 to four illegal brick kilns in Raozan. This drive was led by Executive Magistrate Rakibul Islam of the Chattogram District Administration. Deputy Commissioner of Chattorgram Farida Khanam said a coordinated drive will be conducted against illegal brick kilns and hill cutting. The administration is making comprehensive preparations in this regard.
