Bricks smaller than standard size!

Smaller bricks are being manufactured in several brick kilns in the district, defying the government manual.

The owners are cheating the customers as well as the contractors by supplying bricks that are smaller than standard size, taking the price of standard size bricks, alleged the customers.

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) officials said the standard size of a brick is 10x5x3 inches, but the bricks manufactured in some brick kilns measure 9x4.5x2.8 inches. At least 40 lakh to 75 lakh bricks are manufactured in each brick kiln in six months.

One thousand bricks are being sold for around Tk 8,700 in the brick-kilns this year, while it was Tk 7,500 last year. 

Contractor Kamruzzaman Plabon said their expenditure has increased due to the smaller bricks, adding that they have been facing this problem for the last three years.

Mason Kobad Miah said, “The work which could be done with 1,000 bricks three years ago now needs around 1,100. “We cannot estimate how many bricks will be needed to complete the construction due to their smaller size,” he added.

Ataur Rahman said, “We are being cheated by the brick kiln owners as we pay for standard size bricks but get smaller ones.”

Nabiul Islam, a worker in Hatibandha upazila, said they make bricks following the instruction of the brick kiln owner. He, however, refused to reply when asked about the size of the bricks.

Brick kiln owner Entazur Rahman Enta said he manufactures the bricks as per the government manual, but some owners may be manufacturing smaller ones.

Owner Shahidul Islam of Aditmari upazila echoing the same said brick prices increased this year due to high labour cost.

Rangpur BSTI Field Officer Delwar Hossain told this correspondent that brick kiln owners manufacture smaller and sub-standard bricks. He said they have sent letters to all the brick kiln owners, asking them to follow government manual in making standard size bricks, but they continued to defy the instruction.

Delwar said the BSTI will conduct drives within a week against the kilns making smaller bricks.