HC orders immediate action to halt illegal brick kilns in CHT

The High Court (HC) has directed authorities concerned to take immediate steps to prevent the operation of illegal brick kilns in the hill districts of Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari, reports UNB.

The Deputy Commissioners of these three districts have been instructed to take action within one week of receiving the order.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury passed the order on Sunday. They have also been asked to submit a report on their actions within two weeks.

Senior Advocate Manzil Morshed, along with Advocates Sanjay Mondal, Eklas Uddin Bhuiyan, Nasrin Sultana, and Selim Reza, represented the petitioners. Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Md Tanim Khan appeared for the state.

In 2022, Advocate Md. Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury, representing Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), filed a writ petition in the public interest to halt the operation of unlicensed and illegal brick kilns in the three hill districts.

The respondents in the case include 24 individuals, including officials from the Ministry of Forests and Environment.

Advocate Manzil Morshed told reporters that if illegal brick kilns are allowed to operate, they will cause severe harm to the environment and public health.

He said that preventing their operation is crucial to safeguarding both.