Bangladesh’s environment minister says 5,000 of the country’s 8,000 brick kilns operate illegally, while untreated industrial emissions and vehicle smoke remain key drivers of environmental pollution nationwide.
Around 5,000 of Bangladesh’s nearly 8,000 brick kilns are operating illegally, Environment, Forest and Climate Change State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam said on Monday, highlighting a major challenge in the country’s efforts to curb environmental pollution.
Speaking to reporters after the closing ceremony of an environment-themed debate competition at the Narayanganj Shilpakala Academy in Narayanganj district, the minister said the country has yet to develop a complete alternative to traditional bricks despite ongoing development activities.
He noted that previous governments had set targets to reduce dependence on conventional brick production, but those goals were not achieved.
The minister also identified industrial facilities that fail to use Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) or Air Treatment Plants (ATP), along with black smoke emitted by vehicles, as major sources of environmental pollution.
Sheikh Faridul Islam expressed optimism that, through consultations and cooperation with all stakeholders, the government would be able to bring these pollution sources under control and create a more environmentally comfortable situation within the next year.
The remarks came after the conclusion of an eight-day debate competition held under the theme “The Breeze of Logic in the Dundee of the East.”
At the competition’s final round, Batanpara Government Primary School and Kutubail Model Government Primary School emerged as winners.
Among others present at the closing ceremony were local Member of Parliament Abul Kalam, Narayanganj City Corporation Administrator Sakhawat Hossain Khan, Deputy Commissioner Raihan Kabir and Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman Munshi.
