A mobile court on Wednesday conducted a drive at ARH Brickfield – located in the Hulain Pachuria area of Habilas Dwip Union under Chittagong’s Patiya Upazila – destroying the illegal brick kiln’s chimney, and sealing off its operations for breaking environmental laws.
The Department of Environment (DoE) and Chattogram district administration jointly conducted the drive from 12pm to 5pm, shutting down all activities of that establishment.
Chattogram district administration Senior Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Muhammad Mazharul Islam Chowdhury led the operation, in presence of Inspector Urmi Sarkar of DoE Chattogram district office.
The illegal brick kiln is owned by Chowdhury Hasan Mahmud Akbari and Helal Uddin Chowdhury Sumon – both residents of the Hulain Pachuria area.
Next to the brick kiln is Janata Sawmill, also owned by Chowdhury Hasan Mahmud Akbari. Local residents complain that wood is cut there, and then burnt in the illegal brick kiln.
Back on February 13, the Patiya upazila land officer had conducted a drive against ARH Brickfield, accusing the establishment of operating illegally. The brick kiln was fined Tk 1 lakh during that raid.
Besides, in 2019, a fine of Tk 3 lakh was imposed on ARH Brickfield. Despite facing these fines, the brick kiln had continued to operate illegally in the area.
On the occasion of World Environment Day, marked on June 5 this year, The Business Post had published a news article about this illegal brick kiln titled “ARH Brick Field in Patiya operating sans license.”
Speaking to the correspondent, Chattogram District Administration Senior Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Muhammad Mazharul Islam Chowdhury said, “As part of our regular drives, a raid was conducted at ARH Brickfield in Hulain area of Patiya Upazila.
“The brickfield had been violating laws and operating illegally for a very long time. Two drives had already been conducted against them. Despite that, the owner did not secure a license from the district administration and clearance from the DoE. Even today [Wednesday] we asked them for documents, but they could not show anything.”
It should be noted that the ARH Brickfield was facing many complaints.
According to existing regulations, setting up of brick kilns within one kilometer of any localities or educational institutions is illegal. But there is a college and a market near ARH Brickfield. Besides, the brick kiln was burning the top soil of agricultural land and wood.
Under these circumstances, the brick kiln was demolished and sealed off as part of a joint drive. So that no one can carry out illegal activities there in the future.
Voicing a firm stance against illegal brick kilns, DoE Chattogram district office Deputy Director Ferdous Anwar said, “A campaign to shut down illegal brick kilns is underway. As part of this drive, the illegal ARH brick kiln – located in front of the Hulain Saleh Noor Degree College – has been demolished and sealed off.”
According to complaints from local residents, Janata Sawmill is located a few hundred feet away from ARH Brickfield. This sawmill is owned by Chowdhury Hasan Mahmud Akbari, and is engaged in illegal felling of forest trees and smuggling of timber.
From this sawmill, wood is sent to the ARH Brickfield for burning. The mobile court found evidence of illegally burning of wood during Wednesday’s drive against the brick kiln.
As per Section 4 of Brick Making and Installation of Kiln (Regulation) Act (2013) no brick kiln can be set up without a license from the respective district administration.
According to Section 8 (1) of the same act, brick kilns are not allowed to be set up within one kilometer of localities and educational institutions.
According to Section 5 (1), agricultural land, hill or hill soil cannot be used as raw material. Section 6 prohibits the use of wood for brick burning.
