HC orders demolishing 922 illegal brick kilns in Barishal, Rangpur divisions
FE REPORT | Tuesday, 5 March 2024
The High Court ordered on Monday the demolition of 922 illegal brick kilns in Barishal and Rangpur divisions within four weeks.
The Divisional Commissioners of the two divisions have been instructed to comply with the order and to also take punitive action against the brick kiln owners under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995.
The order was passed by the High Court bench of Justice J B M Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil after hearing a petition on the matter. Lawyer Manzill Murshid represented the petitioner in court, while Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mynul Hassan was also present.
The rights organisation 'Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB)' filed a writ petition with the High Court on September 10, 2022, seeking directives for the abolition of illegal brick kilns.
Following an initial hearing on the petition, the High Court directed the divisional commissioners nationwide to take necessary steps to abolish all illegal brick kilns.
Manzill Murshid said, "Reports send by commissioners suggested that 122 illegal brick kilns in Barishal and 800 illegal brick kilns in Rangpur are still continuing their operation. Therefore, we filed a supplementary application."
Upon hearing the petition the HC asked the divisional commissioners to abolish the illegal brick kilns in the two districts within four weeks and to submit a report in the court, said the lawyer. The court fixed April 25 this year for further proceedings on the case.