HM Rasel, Amtali (Barguna)

Four brick kilns have been constructed in the same localities with the permission of the district administration, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment.

At least 500 acres of three crop lands and 5000 people in that area are at risk of health. Fertility of cropland and environment is being destroyed due to brick kilns. As a result, the affected farmers complain that there is not much harvest.

The victims have demanded that the activities of the brick kilns be stopped soonItavati is in Raibala village of Kukua union of four Amtali upazilas. However, the administration has claimed that it has not given permission to those four brick kilns.

Md. Hannan Mridha, the owner of BBC Bricks, said that we are preparing bricks at Zigzag Bricks. Now there is no chance to destroy agricultural land and environment.

He also said that the district commissioner, additional deputy commissioner, upazila executive officer and all department officials have visited my brick factory. They have allowed the construction of brick kilns. However, he could not give any answer to the question that how the local administration allowed the construction of bricks?

It is learnt that in Raibala village of Amtali upazila, Abdul Hannan Mridha BBC was built in 2017, Shanu Hawladar Fivestar in 2018 three hundred yards away from BBC brick kiln, Mahbubul Alam Mridha MMB in 2019 and Noor Zaman ADB brick kiln in the same place in 2021. This brickyard was built by destroying crop land. Four of those brick kilns do not have permission from the district administration, agriculture department and environment department. Four brickyards have been built without permission from the administration, agriculture department and environment department.

However, the brickyard owners are claiming that the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Agriculture Officer and Environment Department officials have inspected and given permission. But they could not answer the question as to how they were allowed to build brick kilns in localities that all departments inspect. Due to the construction of four brick kilns within half a kilometer, at least five hundred acres of cropland, plants, biodiversity, animal resources, farms, rural roads are being destroyed and the environment is being polluted. Five thousand people of that village are facing health risk.

Farmers complain that the land has lost its fertility after the construction of the brick kiln. The land is not producing crops like before. Besides, within 500 yards of that brick block there are Raibala Government Primary School, Mahishkata Nesaria Dakhil Madrasa, Orphanage and Ibtedayi Madrasa.

According to the Brick Making and Kiln Installation Act, brick kilns cannot be set up within one kilometer of residential areas, three-crop agricultural land, educational institutions. But the owners of the brickyards in Raibala village have shown a thumb to this law and set up brickyards. Anyone who installs brick kilns in violation of the Act is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or fine. But that law is not reflected in those brick kilns. There are complaints that even after informing the administration, they are not taking effective measures for unknown reasons. Conscious citizens of Raibala village have demanded the closure of brick kilns in densely populated areas, adjacent to educational institutions, agricultural land and environment protection.

A spot visit on Thursday revealed densely populated houses, trees and three crop fields next to the BBC, Five Star, ADB and MMS brick factories. Next to those brick kilns are Raibala Government Primary School, Orphanage and Ibtedayi Madrasah. Firing of Dedar bricks is going on in four kilns.

Shahjahan Akon, a farmer of Raibala village, said that the construction of four brick kilns within half a kilometer has threatened the cropland. Now the land is not producing crops like before. He also said that the environment of the area is being severely damaged due to the brick kiln. He demanded the immediate closure of those brick kilns.

Nasir Sikder, a local resident, said that the construction of four brickworks in the same village has made it uninhabitable. The environment has become polluted with black wash and dust. He demanded the administration to take immediate action against the brick kilns.

Zakir Hossain of Raibala village said that due to the brick kilns, at least 500 acres of crop land, biodiversity, rural roads are being destroyed and 5000 people are at risk of health. We demand the closure of those brick kilns to protect the agricultural land and people from the health risks of that village.
Md. Mahbubul Alam Mridha, director of MMS brickworks, said that we have built the brickworks in accordance with all laws and regulations.

Shahinur Begum, principal of Raibala Government Primary School, said there are three brick kilns within a few yards of the school. The health of school students is at risk.

Kukua Union Parishad member Md. Zakir Hossain said that the owners of brickyards are building brickyards by destroying agricultural land. At least five hundred acres of land in this area are losing crops and the environment is under serious threat. They demand immediate closure of those brick kilns.

Md. Noor Jamal, the owner of ADB brickyard, said that we built the brickyard with the permission of all the administration departments. He could not answer the question as to how the administration allowed the construction of brick kilns in the locality.

Amtali Upazila Agriculture Officer Isha Iqbal said that permission has not been given to set up any brick kiln in Raibala area. Setting up brick kilns on agricultural land is destroying arable land on the one hand, and on the other hand, the crops and environment of the brick kiln area are being destroyed.

Hayat Mahmud Raqib, Assistant Director of Barguna Environment Department, said that brickworks cannot be installed in places where the environment is damaged. I do not know whether any brick kilns are allowed to be set up in village Raibala. He also said that action will be taken against those brick kilns subject to investigation.

Amtali UNO Muhammad Ashraful Alam said that legal action will be taken against any brickyard constructed outside the government rules.

Barguna DC Mohammad Shafiul Alam said that the brick kilns will be inspected and necessary measures will be taken.