Nahid Zaman, Rupsha (Khulna)

Following the court directives, Rupsha Upazila Administration's Executive Magistrate Apratim Kumar Chakraborty conducted mobile court on Monday to stop illegal brick kilns.

He closed 22 illegal brick kilns in the drive on first day.

A team of Thana Police, Ansar Bahini, Fire Service and Pallibidyut Samity participated in the drive led by the Upazila Administration.

When asked about the drive after the drive, the Executive Magistrate of the mobile court Apratim Kumar Chakraborty said , the administration will continue such drives to protect the balance of the environment and protect public health. Incidentally, as per the directives of the High Court, regular drives are being conducted against illegal brick kilns polluting the environment in different places in Rupsa.

However, despite the court's order, all the brick kiln owners in Rupsha were asked to submit all the evidence, including the legal documents of the brick kilns, to UNO by March 1, but all the owners failed to produce the evidence. This shows that not a single brick kiln in Rupsa has legal documents.

Local residents welcomed the initiative and said that the public life in the vicinity was being disrupted due to smoke and noise pollution from the illegal brick kilns. They expressed relief at the strict action taken by the administration and called for such a drive to be strengthened further.

On the other hand, the leaders of the Brick Kiln Workers Union said, the brick kiln is an industrial establishment and the livelihood of lakhs of workers is involved here. If the brick kilns are closed immediately, there is a possibility of increase in theft and robbery in the area and deterioration in the law and order situation.