Supreme Court clears path to shut down illegal brick kilns in Chattogram

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the High Court orders that put a 45-day ban on the eviction of some illegally run brick kilns in Chattogram.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique issued the stay orders following eight petitions filed by the Department of Environment challenging the High court order.

Environment Department's lawyer Advocate Monjil Morshed said the chamber judge sent the petitions to its full bench for detailed hearing on 21 June next.

After the apex court order, now there is no bar to shut these illegal brick kilns down, he said.

A High Court bench on 14 December of last year ordered the authorities concerned to stop the operations of all illegal brick kilns in Chattogram. 

The court also issued orders on 31 January and 25 February this year on the issue.

The court ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram and the director of the Department of Environment to implement the order. 

Later on, owners of those illegal brick kilns filed multiple petitions with the Appellate Division seeking a stay order on the High Court directive. But the apex court did not issue a stay order. 

In the meantime, the district administration sought time extensions several times to implement the High Court orders. Eventually on 18 March, the court issued a contempt of court rule against the Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram and others concerned. 

Soon, the owners of those brick kilns filed eight separate writ petitions with the High Court seeking a stay of the eviction process. 

But in their petitions, they did not mention the Supreme Court's refusal orders on the issue.

Following those petitions, a High Court bench on 22 March ordered the authorities concerned not to evict those brick kilns for the next 45 days.