Zakir Azad, Cumilla

Some 16 brick kilns in one union destroying the agricultural land. There are 16 legal and illegal brick kilns in No. 14 Nabipur East Union of Muradnagar Upazila of Cumilla .

The continuous air pollution of these brick kilns has made the area uninhabitable. Local residents say that despite these brick kilns being set up on cropland without following the rules, the administration has not taken any action.

It has been seen from the surface that almost all the crops have been planted here in the agricultural land even though there are no rules for setting up brick kilns. For a long time, the fertile soil on the surface of various crops including paddy is being cut in all the brick kilns of Nabipur East Union No. 14 without following the rules. Almost all the roads of the union have collapsed due to the transportation of soil and bricks by trucks day and night. Due to the black smoke and dust of the brick kiln, the neighboring houses have become uninhabitable.

Agricultural land has become unsuitable for cultivation. Different fruit trees are not bearing fruit. Although there are no rules for setting up kilns in agricultural land, kiln owners are getting permission to set up kilns after getting permission from the agriculture department.

The brick kiln-adjacent residents, who did not wish to be named, said that the land where the kiln was built used to grow rice and vegetables. Later, several brick kilns were built in the nearby lands along with these lands. Due to the black smoke and dust from the brick kilns, all the surrounding land is now unfit for cultivation.

As a result of cutting the soil of the agricultural land and making big holes in the kiln, the surrounding paddy fields are also collapsing.

The affected farmers said that they planted paddy seedlings in the field by taking loans. There were enough flowers in the rice grains. But the golden harvest of their dreams was destroyed by the smoke of the brick kiln. He sought the intervention of the chief adviser to the interim government to save the helpless farmers. Another farmer Hadayetullah said, "We have cultivated the crop with a loan from the bank. Now all our paddy has been destroyed by the smoke of the brick kiln. Earlier we were able to cultivate rice in this place and take it home. Since brick kilns started here, we can no longer cultivate paddy.

All our paddy spoils due to brick kiln smoke. Another affected farmer named Abu Taher said, "The golden harvest of our dreams has been destroyed by the smoke of the brick kiln." Farmers are now disoriented. We have only one crop throughout the year. If that crop is destroyed, the condition of our farmers becomes worse.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Pavel Khan Pappu said, I doubt if there is any other upazila like Muradnagar upazila in Bangladesh. Where when you open your eyes, you can only see brickyards and dredgers. If this continues, after a few years there will be no land available for agricultural work in Muradnagar Upazila. He feels that it is necessary to pull the reins while there is time.

Muradnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sifat Uddin said, "The district administration is conducting a joint operation with the Department of Environment regarding illegal brick kilns. If the farmers are affected, then action will definitely be taken against the kilns.