Brickfields next to primary schools: A menace for 20 years

Brickfields next to primary schools. Children's lives endangered by health hazards. That is how it has been for more than 20 years in Boilor area of Mymensingh's Trishal. 

"Modern Bricks" and "Bhai Bhai Bricks" have been running next to Dewaniabari Govt Primary School and Kanhor Govt Primary School respectively in Boilor for more than two decades.

The authorities, however, remain indifferent.

According to locals, Abdus Salam Khokon, owner of "Modern Bricks", and Md Badal Mia, owner of Bhai Bhai Bricks, have been running their brick fields for years on cultivable land in Boilor.

The brick field owners have leased the lands from locals, where crops are harvested twice to thrice every year.

Kazal Kumar Roy, headteacher of Kanhor Govt Primary School, said the presence of the brick fields have created health hazards for both students and teachers due to the dust, fume and constant movement of vehicles near the school area.

"Our children have been suffering for years. But no effective action has been taken by the authorities to address this," said Parvin Sultana, assistant teacher of the school. 

During the peak season, around 30 trucks and hand trolleys remain engaged to carry the bricks for different destinations from dawn to dusk, accelerating the menace manifolds.

The frequent movement of the brick carrying vehicles has become a safety concern as well for children also play on the school field, said teachers and guardians.

According to Aysha Mustari, principal of Dewaniabari Govt Primary School, no safety measures has been taken by the brick field owners on these fronts.

Dr Ranjan Kumar Majumder, a retired medicine specialist, said due to  environmental pollution from the brick field, school-going children and  residents of the adjacent areas have the risk of suffering respiratory  problems like bronchitis, asthma and heart diseases as well.

Teachers of the schools alleged that they informed Trishal upazila education officer and the Department of Environment (DoE) regarding the issue, but to no avail.

Asked, Education Officer Md Mosharraf Hossain said he visited the schools and the brick fields recently and instructed the upazila administration about the next course of action.

Contacted, Abdus Salam Khokon, owner of "Modern Bricks" refused to cooperate with this correspondent when asked whether his brick field has a license.

However, Badal Mia, owner of Bhai Bhai Bricks, claimed that his brick field is far away from the school and he has applied for a license.

Farid Ahmed, divisional director of Mymensingh DoE, said the brick fields are running without license and proper environmental clearances.

"I was informed about the nuisance. But I have not been able to visit the sites yet," said Farid.

"The brick fields are illegal. Necessary actions will be taken against them soon," he assured.