Laxmipur Correspondent: 28 illegal brick kilns have been built in a union of Ramgati Upazila of Laxmipur without respecting the rules. Among them, there are 14 kilns in one ward of that union. And most of these factories do not have environmental clearance and other valid documents.
Charormiz Union brick kilns used tall chimneys but burned wood instead of coal. Due to the reckless tractors of the kilns, the traffic roads have also become immobile. 15,000 residents of a ward are suffering. Meanwhile, the fertile soil of the upper part of the land is being used for irrigation, which is disrupting the crop production. The environment and people’s lives are under threat.
Meanwhile, the mobile court has raided 8 of these brick kilns in the last 10 days. Each furnace is fined 1 lakh to 8 lakh. Upazila executive officer SM Shantanu Chowdhury said that the furnace fire was extinguished by the fire service along with uprooting the chimneys of these kilns.
On the surface, two brick kilns on Union’s Azad Memorial Road and Syed Moulvi Chowdhury’s Hat Road can be seen, the kilns are being built for burning bricks. Several hundred maunds of wood (wood) are stacked in the kiln area. A few workers are seen cutting the soil from the pile and preparing it with water. And others are busy making bricks.
Child laborers were seen working as brick drying laborers in the kilns. The children took the job of drying the bricks for a salary of 100 taka per day.
Some have started working with a fixed salary according to the season. The brick kiln works throughout the dry season from November onwards. Out of 14 brick kilns in Char Afzal village, ward number 5 of this union, only the owners of Rafiq Bricks and Ashraf Bricks said that their kilns do not have any valid documents. It is alleged that upazila vice chairman Rahid Hossain built the brick kilns in exchange of illegal money from some owners. The kilns are run with their connivance.
Mizanur Rahman, son of Rafiq Ulya, the owner of Rafiq Bricks, said, “Last year, the Department of Environment fined us Tk 2 lakh due to burning wood in the kiln instead of coal. Later we applied for the exemption letter from the Department of Environment. I have not received approval so far.
He claimed, “If the administration closes the other 27 kilns, he will also close his own brick kiln.” This time 50 lakh bricks will be made in my kiln.
Three brick kiln owners, who did not wish to be named, said that our kilns also do not have any valid documents. We have not been given any permission by the Department of Environment. Still we have spent crores of rupees to build the kiln.
Owner of Ashraf Bricks. Ashraf refused to speak to the media. However, he said, like other 27 brick kilns of the union, the cable is also running. He does not have permission from the Department of Environment to run the kiln. No other valid documents either.
Local Awami League leader Abul Kashem Nizam said, “Each brick kiln requires at least 20 acres of land. It has 14 brick kilns occupying most of the land in a ward. People are constantly swallowing thousands of tons of carbon dioxide due to the fumes of the tides. People’s respiratory system is getting destroyed.
Acknowledging the 28 brick kilns, Chararmiz Union Parishad Chairman Mujahidul Islam Didar said, “Union Parishad has no authority to take action against the kilns.” The matter has been informed to the administration. Recently 8 brick kilns were raided and fined. Half a million people are suffering directly and indirectly due to brick kilns.
Upazila Vice Chairman Rahid Hossain said, “There have been allegations made against me but they are not true. Why do the owners of the mill go to pay me? Apart from Charormiz, there are many illegal brick kilns in other unions as well. He further said, “The mobile courts are conducting raids and are imposing fines and demolishing brick kilns at various times. Still, the kiln owners started burning bricks again. The Department of Environment can close the kilns.
Harun Or Rashid Pathan, deputy director of Laxmipur Environment Department, said, “Recently, we have been given responsibility in Laxmipur district. In the meantime we have raided a few brickyards. Fines have also been imposed. A report against the brick kilns will be sent to the head office. If we decide from there, we will take further action. Our campaign is also continuing.
In this regard, Ramgati Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) SM Shantanu Chowdhury said, ‘There are instructions from the district administration to take action against illegal kilns. Mobile courts are being run from November 7 against illegal brick kilns. In the last 10 days raids were conducted in 8 brick kilns namely Alauddin Brickfield, Ghiyasuddin Bricks, Rafiq Bricks, MS Bricks, Tisha Bricks, Amri Bricks, Fatema Naz Afra Bricks and Fardin Anam Bricks. These furnaces have been fined 1 lakh and 8 lakh rupees each. Our campaign against illegal brick kilns will continue.
He also said, “I don’t know whether the upazila vice chairman or anyone else collects the subscription from the kiln owners.” No one complained to me. A complaint will be filed and legal action will be taken.
