Four brick kilns in Barishal were fined Tk 16.5 lakh after the Department of Environment raided illegal operations, demolished the kilns, destroyed raw bricks, and warned against continued firewood use by the authorities.
The Department of Environment (DoE) on Thursday fined four brick kilns a total of Tk16.5 lakh during a mobile court drive in Babuganj upazila of Barishal district for violating environmental laws.
DoE Director Md Mujahidul Islam said such drives against illegal brick kilns and polluters would continue to ensure environmental protection and strict compliance with the law.
Local environmental groups welcomed the drive, saying strict enforcement of environmental laws is crucial to protecting public health and reducing air pollution in the region.
The drive was conducted from 11:00 am to around 3:45 pm in the Doarika area of Rahmatpur Union under the leadership of Executive Magistrate Lovely Yasmin of the DoE. The operation was supervised by Md Mujahidul Islam, director of the DoE Barishal Divisional Office.
Assistant Director of the DoE district office, Kazi Saifuddin and Inspector Tarek Aziz conducted the prosecution during the mobile court.
According to the DoE, the penalties were imposed for illegally burning firewood, setting up unauthorised sawmills and causing serious environmental degradation, in violation of the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act.
During the drive, Taj Taj Bricks was fined Tk4 lakh, Asia Bricks Tk2.5 lakh, AKN Bricks Tk5 lakh and Islam Bricks Tk5 lakh.
In addition to the fines, the authorities demolished parts of the kilns and destroyed around 10 lakh illegally produced raw bricks. The kiln owners were also instructed to remove illegal sawmills and completely stop the use of firewood within one week.
Members of the district police, 10 Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and Fire Service personnel assisted the DoE in maintaining law and order during the operation.
