Brick kilns in CHT
Around 100 brick kilns in Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati hill districts use 5.40 lakh tonnes of loamy soil every year, much to the harm of agricultural lands in addition to causing damage to the hills, forest resources and environment.
A recent research of Bangladesh Soil Research Institute found that, 52 brick kilns in Khagrachhari, 31 in Bandarban and 17 in Rangamati produce and refract about 18 crore pieces of bricks every year. In the process topsoil of at least 270 hectares of crop land is destroyed every year.
Expert said that, Brick kilns have to use loamy soil to maintain quality of bricks. If the process continues 74,903 hectares of crop land in Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari will be destroyed soon. Crop lands throughout the country are facing threat as setting up of brick kilns continues. Existing law has provision for jail term of different tenures and monetary fine for using firewood for burning bricks. But there is no law to take action against the use of soil from agricultural land for the purpose. According to the latest account, there are 34,114 hectares of sloppy crop lands in Khagrachari, 22,443 hectares in Bandarban and 18,346 hectares in Rangamati district. The brick kilns now threaten these lands. A medium sized brick kiln produces about 18 lakh pieces of brick every year and at least 3 kg earth is required for a piece of 150 cubic inch brick.
It is time for the relevant ministries and departments to enforce laws against the culprits and close all illegal brick kilns in the CHT area.
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