LOHAGARA, CHATTOGRAM, Mar 24: Nearly 40 brick kilns in Lohagara Upazila, are reportedly using wood from protected forests as fuel to fire their kilns. Despite being illegal, this practice has continued unchecked for years, leading to deforestation, environmental pollution, and health risks for local residents.
A recent field visit revealed that several kilns, including Four BM, JBM Bricks, MR Bricks, PBM, and SBM Bricks in Padua Union, have stockpiled forest wood to burn for brick production. Sources allege that local forest officials often allow this in exchange for money, while kilns that refuse to "manage" forest officials face occasional raids.
Under the 2013 Brick Manufacturing and Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, wood cannot be used as fuel for brick firing.
Violating this provision carries a penalty of three years' imprisonment or a fine of up to three lakh taka. Nevertheless, kiln owners often flout the law or pay fines and continue using wood.
According to Section 8 of the Brick Kiln Act, kilns cannot be established in residential, protected, or commercial areas; within city corporation, municipal, or upazila headquarters; in government or private forests, wildlife sanctuaries, gardens, wetlands, agricultural lands; environmentally sensitive areas; or degraded air-shed zones. Yet, nearly all brick kilns in the Lohagara region operate in violation of these rules.
The Department of Environment (DoE) notes that kilns should be located at least three kilometres away from protected forests and ten kilometres from populated areas. Most kilns, however, ignore these guidelines. Government regulations require the use of mineral coal for firing bricks, but in most cases, forest wood is used instead.
A brick kiln owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said that before each season, kiln owners 'manage' higher authorities through various channels. As a result, officials receive prior information about any planned raids, allowing owners to remove forest wood before inspections. In many kilns, trucks of mineral coal are kept at the front to disguise the use of wood. In some cases, wood is stored in a separate 'stock room' and brought to the kiln in the evening via jeep or truck.
When asked about allegations that forest officials allow the use of protected wood in exchange for money, Padua Range Officer Mojlur Rashid refused to comment, instead inviting the reporter to visit his office.
Assistant Conservator of Forests in Padua Range, Delwar Hossain, said, "The wood burned in kilns does not belong to our department. Yet we regularly conduct raids on brick kilns, and frequently seize wood and vehicles used to transport it."
The unregulated use of protected forest wood for brick firing in Lohagara is contributing to deforestation, environmental degradation, and health hazards for the local population. Despite existing laws and guidelines, enforcement remains weak, and the practice continues largely unchecked.
