Tk35 lakh penalised in nationwide anti-pollution drives, 12 brick kilns shut
Alongside the DoE, DNCC, DSCC, BRTA, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and RAJUK jointly carried out anti-pollution enforcement operations at multiple locations in Dhaka
The Department of Environment (DoE) carried out a series of nationwide mobile court drives today (4 December), shutting down 12 illegal brick kilns and imposing fines totalling Tk33.5 lakh for air pollution, banned polythene production and other environmental violations.
Five drives were conducted in Chattogram, Kushtia, Dinajpur, Jhenaidah and Barishal under the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act 2013. A total of 12 cases led to Tk3,350,000 fines, while the mobile courts dismantled chimneys, destroyed raw bricks and disconnected the electricity supply to illegal operations, according to a press release.
In Sirajganj, a separate drive under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995 (Amended 2010) targeted the ban on polythene production and marketing. Officials filed one case, fined a trader Tk1,000 and seized 2kg of polythene. Awareness campaigns were also conducted at marketplaces and shops.
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A mobile court in front of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in Dhaka fined Tk49,000 in 10 cases for excessive vehicular emissions, while several drivers were cautioned. Another drive at the same spot—under the Noise Pollution Control Rules 2006—filed 3 cases, imposed Tk15,000 fines and seized five hydraulic horns.
Under the Air Pollution Control Rules 2022, mobile courts in Jhenaidah and Dhaka's Bosila–Mohammadpur area fined Tk127,000 in 10 cases for air pollution caused by construction materials and smoke from food-processing units. The responsible establishments were instructed to clear construction materials immediately.
Alongside the DoE, DNCC, DSCC, BRTA, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and RAJUK jointly carried out anti-pollution enforcement operations at multiple locations in Dhaka.
In Narayanganj, authorities completely shut down an illegally run dyeing factory after disconnecting its utility services during a mobile court drive under the Environment Conservation Act.
The DoE said its enforcement operations will continue in the coming days.
