Residents say the factory’s operation in a densely populated area poses environmental and public health risks, after authorities had previously fined it for illegal activities.
Residents blocked a regional highway in Bangladesh’s Kishoreganj district on Sunday night to demand the closure of an illegal lead factory operating in a densely populated area, officials and locals said.
The incident took place in Madhyapara village of Achmita Union in Katiadi upazila, along the Kishoreganj-Bhairab regional highway.
At around 10 pm on Sunday, September 20, residents began marching to demand the closure of the lead factory located beside the regional highway. The procession gradually grew into a large crowd, bringing traffic on both sides of the highway to a complete standstill and causing a traffic jam stretching about two kilometres.
During the protest, some unruly residents gathered dry wood outside the factory and set it on fire, while threatening and intimidating those associated with the factory.
Katiadi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Rafiqul Islam was informed of the incident and arrived at the scene with about 20 police personnel. He began discussions with both sides.
After about two hours of talks, police and residents jointly extinguished the fire with the assistance of the officer-in-charge. The illegal lead factory was then ordered to remain closed indefinitely.
The factory was also ordered to remain shut until it obtains clearance from the Department of Environment and complies with government instructions and directives, including those requiring approval from the authorities.
Traffic on the regional highway returned to normal after the factory was closed.
The factory had previously been fined Tk 50,000 through a mobile court of the upazila for conducting illegal activities in a densely populated area.
Local residents said reopening the lead factory in a residential area could have serious effects on the environment and public health. They strongly demanded that the factory not be allowed to resume operations.
