Gopalganj brickfields burn wood flouting govt ban

GOPALGANJ, Mar 29: Firewood is being burnt indiscriminately in brickfields in the district in violation of the government's ban.

The government has imposed a ban on the wood use in brick kilns as trees are being felled rampant, affecting ecological balance of the environment.

Environmentalists said the burning of wood in brick kilns pollutes the environment.

The district and upazila administrations are indifferent to comply with the government ban though a huge quantity of wood is used for brickfields every day.

According to official reports, there are 49 brickfields in five upazilas of Gopalganj district. Sixteen of them are illegally set up.

Most of the brickfields pose a threat to the environment and violate the Environment Conservation Act 2019.

On the other hand, a very few brickfields have chimneys with the standard height of 120 feet or equipped with wet scrubber to check air pollution.

Huge stocks of firewood are found in the brickfields for burning bricks.

According to an estimate, some 43,000 to 44,000kg of firewood is required to bake one lakh bricks.

Owners of brickfields use firewood in their kilns in violation of the government's ban.

As per law, one may be sentenced to two years in prison or fined Tk 500,000.

Under the circumstances, the district administration has already fined seven brickfield owners Tk 1.7 million (17 lakh) for burning wood.

Seven were filed against them for violating the Brickfields Control Act 2019.

Sources said the district administration has destroyed seven brick kilns till 15 March this year.

According to the law, no brick kiln is allowed in the town/city within three kilometres of the upazila headquarters or reserved forests or at the bottom of any hill.

Owners of some brickfields told this correspondent that there is a provision of using wood for brick kilns.

Local elites have urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps against the use of firewood in the brick kilns.

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