Cumilla Correspondent :
In light of the court ruling, the controversial brick kiln ‘Ma Bricks’ demolished by the Department of Environment in Chouddagram, Cumilla, has reopened. The kiln has already started burning new bricks.
Earlier, when the initiative to reopen the brick kiln was taken, ignoring the court ruling, there was a huge uproar and discussion and criticism.
The construction of a new broiler furnace and going into production while showing the thumbs up to the court ruling and the administration has created extreme anger among the local residents.
It is learned that in December last year, the Cumilla Environment Department and the Chouddagram Upazila Administration jointly demolished the unlicensed brick kiln called ‘Ma Bricks Enterprise’ located in the area adjacent to an educational institution, residential housing and a market in Basantapur Mouza of Kashinagar Union of the upazila, and fined the owner of the brick kiln, Kashinagar Union Awami League Vice President Md. Khorshed Alam, one lakh taka in cash. After the demolition, it was closed for 11 months.
After that, a written complaint was filed by the locals to the Environment Department, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Cumilla District Administration and Upazila Nirbahi Officer expressing their anger over the construction of a new broiler furnace.
The written complaint stated that according to Section 8 of the Brick Kiln Establishment Control Act, no brick kiln can be established within one kilometer of government educational institutions, health clinics, residential areas and cropland.
Next to it, Manikantanpur Government Primary School, Ebtedayi Madrasa, Orphanage, Jame Mosque, Basantpur Bazar, Government Health Clinic and other residential houses are at risk of being affected by the brick kiln.
The Cumilla Department of Environment said that after receiving the news of the opening of Ma Bricks ignoring the court verdict, we have served a notice on the brick kiln authorities.
However, the owner of the brick kiln, Khorshed Alam, argued in favor of opening the kiln and claimed that a writ has been filed in the High Court against the verdict.
Copies of the writ have been placed on all the tables of the administration. However, after filing the writ, he could not provide any information regarding the permission to open the brick kiln.
Meanwhile, Khorshed Alam, ignoring the court verdict and the notice of the Department of Environment, has formed a human chain with local AL leaders and workers in favor of opening the brick kiln.
Abdul Matin, a businessman in Basantpur Bazar of Kashinagar Union, said that it is true that there is no fruit growing around the brick kiln. Everyone is suffering from dust.
Family members of Shahid and Salamat Ullah, who live next to the brick kiln, said that our house and the trees in the house are red in the dry dust. We are constantly suffering from various respiratory diseases.
Md. Khorshed Alam, owner of Messrs. Ma Bricks, said on Sunday that the court has given permission to restart the brick kiln.
Letters in this regard have been given to every department concerned. He repeatedly asked the departments, “Don’t ask me questions.”
Jobair Hossain, inspector of the Comilla district office of the Department of Environment, said, “Last year, the brick kiln was demolished in light of the order of the learned court.
Recently, the authorities of the Ma brick kiln filed a writ against the court’s verdict, but it has not been resolved.
In such a situation, there is no opportunity to run the brick kiln without a court’s verdict.
The brick kiln does not have an environmental clearance certificate and no approval from the DC office. We have notified the authorities after receiving the news of the brick kiln being opened in such a situation.
Chouddagram Upazila Executive Officer Md. Jamal Hossain said, “The brick kiln was demolished last year in light of the court’s verdict. Legal action can be taken again as per the writ order in the High Court.
However, if the Comilla District Office of the Department of Environment, as a dedicated department created by law, seeks any cooperation, the upazila administration will provide full cooperation.”
