Ruhul Amin from Rupganj

Even though the 100-day zero tolerance program of the government is ongoing to control illegal brick kilns to prevent environmental pollution, the brick kilns built like umbrellas in Narayanganj, along with the municipal city of Rupganj, continue to burn their environment.

Along with hundreds of illegal brick kilns in Rupganj upazila, half a dozen brick kilns in the heart of the town are continuing their illegal activities in Birdarp. 6 furnaces built in crowded residential areas, localities and close to educational institutions in the heart of this grade township Tarab Municipality have now turned into poison points.

No government policy is being followed in these brick kilns built in the populated localities of the upazila. Wood is being burnt freely in Birdarpur in broad daylight flouting government regulations. As in other areas of Rupganj, a number of brick kilns that have been built freely have posed a serious threat to the environment of the residential area of the first-tier municipal town with well-developed civic amenities. On the one hand, the cropland is shrinking as the top soil of the agricultural land is freely used as the only raw material. As a result of which, on one hand, thousands of acres of land are falling and agriculture is being destroyed, on the other hand, the environment and public health are under threat due to dust and smoke.

The name of Narayanganj is in the pollution list after the capital Dhaka. And one of the reasons is the brick kiln. According to environmentalists, brick kilns are responsible for 58 percent of air pollution. Illegal brick kilns have been established without regard to government policies. The environment of Narayanganj has been disturbed by the black smoke of the tide. As a result, public health is under serious threat.

According to the investigation, as part of the 100-day program to stop illegal brick kilns and use of wood as fuel in brick kilns and to prevent environmental pollution, the activities of crushing illegal brick kilns in Dhaka and its surroundings have started. In the meantime, the Department of Environment has stopped the activities of many brick kilns by raiding various places. The ongoing program is scheduled to end in the first week of May.

Meanwhile, despite the government's ongoing campaign to stop illegal brick kilns, questions have been raised in the public mind about how the illegal kilns of the upazila are running in Bir Darp, flouting the law.

According to the Brick Kiln Control Act and Rules, the use of wood as a floor is prohibited and the owners of the brick kilns are not taking it into account even though there are rules for the construction of brick kilns within three kilometers of any special establishment, railway, hospital and clinic, educational institute, research institute and locality. Although raids were conducted in brick kilns in other areas in the past days, no raids were conducted in these brick kilns of Tarab town for mysterious reasons. These 6 brick kilns are repeatedly caught out of touch.

As a result, the kilns continue to operate illegally in Birdarp. It is destroying the environment, agricultural land and public health are also threatened.

According to the information of the Narayanganj District Environment Department, there are a total of 114 illegal brick kilns in Rupganj. Rupganj upazila has the largest number of brick kilns in the district. There are 151 zigzag brick kilns operating in Narayanganj without license and renewal. Among them, there are 82 in Rupganj. And there are 107 illegal brick kilns with 120 feet chimney. Among them, there are 32 in Rupganj upazila. Apart from the Tarab municipal area in the upazila, Daudpur union also has a brick kiln like a satirical umbrella. The once agrarian Sujla Sufla of Daudpur and Purchae has been consumed by coal from illegal brick kilns. There are about 64 brick kilns in Daudpur union.

It can be seen on the surface, 3 brick kilns including 3 in Korngope, 2 in Masab, and 1 in Kandapara of Tarab Municipal Ward No. 3 are continuing their illegal production activities in populated residential areas. On the other hand, Daudpur's Shimulia, Beldi, Debai, Khaisair, Khas Daudpur, Khas Kamal Kati along with Shitalakshya have a row of brick kilns. Wood is being burnt openly in these brick kilns. Due to increase in the price of coal, wood is being used as an easy fuel. They are running their production activities through various irregularities in these brick kilns built next to the houses of cropland and river banks.

Although the use of wood as fuel is prohibited, this law is not followed there. Thousands of mana trees are lined up in front of the bhat. Apart from this, truck after truck carrying soil, chalk and bricks are traveling to the brickyard every day through the market and the market. The environment is being polluted by the dust and the roads are being damaged. On the other hand, the top soil of the agricultural land is being cut off and flowing into the valley. Agricultural land is smiling.

There are several kilns in Korngope, one of the most populated areas of Tarabpur city. Among them, Munni Bricks is a government primary school in a populated residential area, a madrassa and US Bengali student hostel is adjacent to the unregulated activities of this institution, the students of these institutions and the residents of this area are at the most health risk. On the other hand, the only way to enter the area is by occupying the pavement of the Korngop-Gandharbpur road and stacking the manufactured bricks has caused inconvenience to the pedestrian traffic as well as danger of accidents. On the other hand, the chimneys of the brick kilns were not installed according to the regulations of the Department of Environment, so black smoke entered the living rooms of the area. Due to this, the children and the elderly people of the downstream area suffer from various air borne diseases.

Md. Sifatul, a resident of Karangop area of the municipal area adjacent to the Munnibricks brickyard, said that there are 6 illegal brick kilns running in the municipality. Among these, the location of Munni Bricks brick factory is very close to school, madrasa in a crowded residential area, the people of the area including students are suffering from dust, sand and fumes and dangerous environment and road traffic.

Baharuddin, a resident of the Masab area of the city, said that there are six brick kilns in one ward adjacent to the educational institution of the primary residential area of Tarab municipality. Wood is being burnt there without regard to government regulations. Plants and environment are being destroyed.

A farmer named Mohiuddi of Beldi area said that the soil of the upper part of the agricultural land is going to the brick kiln every day by hundreds of trucks. Because of this, the amount of arable land is decreasing. 'Year after year, these low tides are continuously polluting the environment, but no one is watching.

Abul Basar, a brick kiln engineer, said that 450 to 500 maunds of wood are burnt with coal in each kiln every day. Due to increase in coal prices, owners are turning to wood for burning bricks. When the authorities give us wood or coal, we continue to burn.

Ripon Biswas, manager of Munni Bricks, said that due to the increase in coal prices in the market, the cost of production is higher. On the other hand, burning bricks with wood chips reduces the relative cost. As a result, the profit is slightly higher. As soon as the price of coal comes down, we will stop using chalk in the kiln and use coal.

Mohammad Hafizur Rahman, Deputy Director of Environment Department of Narayanganj said, there is no legality to operate brick kiln in this way within the municipality. However, as the case against the brick kiln is pending in the High Court, we cannot do anything there until it is settled. We will soon take legal action against all other illegal brick kilns.

Rupganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ahsan Mahmud Russell said, I have joined this upazila for some time. We will visit all these areas and take legal action to stop illegal brick kilns from operating. No brick kiln can be allowed to run outside the rules. Action will be taken against them as per law.