DOE demolished 4 illegal brick kilns, fined Tk 64 lakh

Staff Reporter :
A Department of Environment (DoE) mobile court has fined four illegal brick kilns of Dhaka’s Keranigonj total of Tk 64 lakh, on charges of polluting the environment.

The court led by DoE Executive Magistrate Masud Hasan Patwariimposed the fines during a day-long drive conducted at South Keranigonj Bramingaon, Jazzira areas on Thursday.

In the drive, M/S Noor Brick Kiln from Bramingaon area was fined Tk four lakh, Delower Traders Brick Kiln Tk 20 lakh, M/S BhaiBhai Brick kiln Tk 20 lakh and Mousumi Brick Manufacturer Tk 20 lakh each, said the magistrate.

Apart from the fines, those brick kilns were demolished and the owners were asked not to operate brick kilns, said the magistrate.
The drives against illegal brick kilns will continue, added the magistrate.

During the mobile court operation DOE Dhaka office visitor Pratik Islam acted as a prosecutor.

Besides, DOE Dhaka office assistant director Hayat Mahmud Rokib, deputy director Zahirul Islam Talukdar and Fire Service and Civil Defense and law enforce agencies member were present.

The drives come after Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury on 18 January said the government will use Brick Kiln Tracker to help identify environmental pollutants, and illegal brick kilns, and take proper legal action against them.

“As a result, it will be easier to stop illegal activities by identifying highly harmful brick kilns on a priority basis….it will be possible to reduce air pollution caused by brick kilns,” he said.

The Environment Minister said the Brick Kiln Tracker based on IT and remote sensing technology has been developed in a joint venture between the Department of Environment (DoE) and the National University of Singapore.