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No new permit for brick kilns will be issued to reduce air pollution, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources said on Thursday.
Besides, the operation of 3,491 brick kilns operating without environmental clearance to be shut down and all brick kilns built illegally in hilly areas will be relocated, she said.
The adviser said these in a view exchange meeting with the leaders of the Directorate of Environment and Bangladesh Brick Manufacturing Owners Association (BBMOA) in the meeting room at the secretariat.
The meeting discussed in detail about environment-friendly brick production, modernization of brick kilns, and reduction of carbon emissions.
Expressing deep concern about the environmental impact of brick kilns, Rizwana Hasan said, "It is not enough to just construct buildings, we have to ensure a livable environment for future generations."
She also said that the average life expectancy of people is decreasing by 5-7 years due to air pollution. Therefore, no brick kiln can be operated without license and permit.
She also asked the officials of the Department of Environment to take strict action against corruption. BBMOA leaders highlighted the challenges faced by the brick industry and sought the government's cooperation to encourage use of green technology in brick kilns and gave a memorandum to the advisor.
In the meeting, the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Additional Secretary, Director General of the Department of Environment, President of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Brick Manufacturing Owners Association Feroz Haider Khan and other leaders from the central and various districts spoke.
