Experts have urged to use green technology for construction. They said the country's construction sector should use eco-friendly materials like hollow blocks, aiming to protect the environment and lower the cost of construction.
They said traditional bricks' manufacturing is not only harmful for environment but also requires top soil of agricultural lands, which pose a threat to food-production.
They made the call at the inauguration of a five-day exhibition, styled 'Housing, Construction Materials Technology Expo-2018', in the capital on Tuesday.
The Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI) has organised the exposition on the premises of its headquarters at Darus Salam (Technical crossing).
Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest while architect Mubasshar Hussain was present as the special guest.
HBRI Director Mohammad Abu Sadeque presided over the inaugural function. Officials of the institute, including its senior research officer Md Akhter Hossain Sarker was also present, among others.
Addressing the programme, Mosharraf Hossain said low-cost and eco-friendly construction materials are essential to ensure housing facilities for every family in the country.
"We need to stop the use of traditional bricks considering their negative impact on nature," he said.
The minister also laid emphasis on using hollow blocks in every government construction projects.
The speakers at the inaugural programme said, the country loses around 1.0 per cent of agricultural land's top soil for traditional brick manufacturing per year. Use of eco-friendly construction materials has become essential to save the land.
Eco-friendly construction materials like hollow block, thermal block, sandwich wall and compressed stabilised earth block (CSEB) can reduce 30 per cent the construction cost, they pointed out.
The HBRI has invented the environment-friendly and economically-saving alternative hollow bricks which can be made without any baking.
Speaking on the occasion, Mubasshar Hussain said: "Our total agricultural land is shrinking rapidly. We cannot destroy the land by collecting top soil from it as alternative options are available," he said.
Referring to a private realtor, he said the company reduces 20 per cent of construction cost by using hollow blocks.
"The hollow blocks manufacturing technology has improved a lot in recent years," he mentioned, adding that these are more effective than traditional bricks.
Later the guests visited the stalls at the HBRI's newly-built display centre.
According to the organisers, some 17 companies are participating in the fair.
They are exhibiting different kinds of eco-friendly, low cost construction materials.
The fair will remain open for visitors from 11.00am to 8.00pm free of cost every day.
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