HC orders demolishment of all illegal brick kilns within four weeks
The director general of the Department of Environment (DoE), all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners have been asked to implement the order and submit a report by 17 March
The High Court today (24 February) ordered authorities concerned to demolish all illegal brick kilns within four weeks.
The director general of the Department of Environment (DoE), all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners have been asked to implement the order and submit a report by 17 March.
The High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury passed the order after hearing a supplementary application in this regard.
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At the same time, the court has summoned the DoE director general and the divisional commissioners of Sylhet, Rajshahi, Barisal, Rangpur and Mymensingh to explain their failure to take effective steps to stop illegal brick kilns and the use of wood as fuel for brick kilns.
They have been asked to give their explanation on 17 March after appearing in the court in person.
Advocate Manjid Morshed appeared for the writ petitioners in the court. Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R Haque, Deputy Attorney General Tanim Khan and Asad Uddin appeared for the state.
Earlier on 29 January, the divisional commissioners of Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna; the DCs of Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and the upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) of Savar-Dhamrai upazila appeared in court to explain their failure to take effective steps to stop illegal brick kilns and the use of wood as fuel in brick kilns.
Speaking to reporters today, lawyer Manzil Morshed said the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed a writ petition in the public interest in 2022 to stop the activities of illegal unlicensed brick kilns throughout Bangladesh.
After the hearing, the court issued a rule on 13 November 2022, ordering the defendants to stop the activities of illegal brick kilns.
Since the divisional commissioners have not taken effective steps in this regard so far, on 28 November last year, the court directed the divisional commissioners of each division to take effective steps to stop the illegal brick kilns.
After receiving the order, the divisional commissioner submitted a report to the court and on reviewing the report, it was seen that the names of the previously closed brick kilns have been added to the list of closed brick kilns and all the illegal brick kilns are operating their activities.
Since they could not take appropriate steps in this regard, a supplementary application was filed on behalf of HRPB to the court to request the divisional commissioners of Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna and the deputy commissioners of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram and the UNOs of Savar and Dhamrai upazilas to appear in court and provide this explanation.
