The High Court on Wednesday ordered the director general (DG) of Department of Environment (DoE) and deputy commissioners (DCs) of Dhaka, Gazipur, Manikganj, Narayanganj and Munshiganj distircts to appear before it on May 17 to explain as to why illegal brick kilns were not shut down despite its repeated directives.
The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a rights organization, seeking necessary directives on this issue.
In response to a writ petition the same High Court bench on March 1 this year directed the concerned bodies of the government to destroy all the illegal brick kilns installed in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Manikganj and Munshiganj districts in 15 days.
It has also asked the authorities to demolish within 15 days the other installations set up in the brick kilns in those areas.
The Director General of the Environment Department and five Deputy Commissioners of the five districts were asked to comply with the direction and submit a compliance report in the court.
In the compliance reports submitted in the High Court, four of the DCs said they have been shutting down the illegal brick kilns and they have already shut down a total of 114 illegal brick kilns whereas the actual number is 318.
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