40 brick kilns fined for damaging environment

The Department of Environment (DoE) in Chattogram yesterday fined 40 brick kilns, a factory and an individual TK 24,80,000 -- for polluting the environment, cutting hills and operating brick kilns without DoE clearance.

Muktadir Hasan, assistant director of Chattogram DoE, said 38 brick kilns from Fatikchhari upazila in Chattogram were fined Tk 20,10,000 -- while two others from Chandpur and Cumilla districts were fined Tk 1,50,000 in total.

DoE also fined one Sujan Barua Tk 2,00,000 for cutting hill illegally in Cox's Bazar, he said.

A factory of Navana Batteries in Sitakunda upazila was fined Tk 1,20,000 for polluting the environment by releasing toxic waste.