Illegal, yet in operation

Even though they were demolished by the authorities concerned more than a year ago, two illegal brick kilns have started operating again in Lalmonirhat.

A mobile court of the Department of Environment knocked down SUN Bricks and SIR Bricks at Purbo Saptana in Lalmonirhat municipality area on February 9, 2021.

The brick kiln owners were also fined Tk 7 lakh each, said Mez-Babul Alam, deputy director of DoE in Rangpur.

"They were instructed to remove all equipment used in the brickfields," he added.

But such actions could not make the brick kiln owners refrain from going into operation again. They repaired those, got all the equipment ready and started burning bricks again.

These two brick kilns have been operating illegally for almost 18 years. Although the DoE takes actions following numerous complaints from local farmers, it brings no result, farmers alleged.

The farmers said the illegal brickfields located around their cultivable land are causing damage to their crops.

Shamim Ashraf, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Lalmonirhat, echoed them.

Abdul Quader, one of the farmers, said, "Owners of the two illegal brick kilns are quite influential. They even harassed those who protested against them."

"If their illegal activities continue, our agricultural production will severely be hampered," he added.

Contacted, SIR Bricks owner Entazur Rahman and SUN Bricks owner Ashikur Rahman refused to talk to the media in this regard.

Lalmonirhat Sadar UNO Mahmuda Masum said she does not know the details about the two brickfields as she joined the office recently.

The DoE deputy director Mez-Babul Alam said they will launch another drive against the errant owners soon.