Brickkilns blamed for 40pc air pollution, experts say

Experts at a workshop on Sunday blamed brickkilns for causing serious air pollution in Dhaka and its surrounding areas, reports UNB. They said the brickkilns are responsible for 40 per cent pollution. Every year 8.0 million tonnes carbon is being emitted from these brickkilns and Bangladesh could earn US$80 million as carbon credit through applying environment-friendly technology in the brick kilns, they observed. They said if the environment-friendly technology is applied large volume of bricks could be exported through protecting environment. Brazil embassy in Dhaka, German-based development organization - giz and non-government organization ANNESHA GROUP arranged the workshop on 'Environment Friendly Low-cost Brick Making Technology' at a city hotel. Industries Minister Dilip Barua attended the occasion as the chief guest while Prof of Federal University of Rio de Janerio Francisco Jose Casanova presented the keynote paper. Coordinator of Sustainable Energy for Development, giz Erich Otto Gomm delivered the address of welcome. Economist Prof Abul Barakat, Brazil Ambassador in Dhaka Ricardo L Viana Carvalho, Annesha Group managing director UM Ashek took part in the discussion, among others. Speakers at the workshop said environment and biodiversity are greatly being affected due to producing bricks by using old technology. They laid importance on using modern technology in the brick kilns to reduce pollution.