Illegal brick kiln fined in Kurigram

Department of Environment (DoE) conducted a drive against an illegal brick kiln for violating environmental laws in Kurigram’s Ulipur upazila on Thursday afternoon.

During the drive, authorities demolished unauthorised structures of M/S HBU Brick Kiln in Tabakpur unio and disconnected the electricity supply, effectively shutting down the kiln.

According to sources, a team of officials led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate of the district administration Mezbah Uddin Ahmed, with Assistant Director of the Department of Environment Rezaul Karim acting as prosecutor, conducted the drive and fined Tk 2 lakh for collecting soil for brick production without obtaining environmental clearance and approval from the district administration.

According to the Department of Environment, a mobile court was conducted against the kiln for violating the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, 2013 (amended in 2019).

Authorities also demolished parts of the kiln’s infrastructure using an excavator and disconnected the power supply due to the absence of updated documents, bringing its operations to a halt.

Confirming the drive, Executive Magistrate Mezbah Uddin Ahmed said the brick kiln had been set up without complying with the provisions of the law.

He added that drives against illegal brick kilns would continue to protect agricultural land and control air pollution.

ZAS/AM