Dainik Mathabhanga, January 8, 2020,
Majedul Haque Manik: Brick kilns across Meherpur district are openly burning wood, violating environmental regulations. Due to a lack of administrative action, kiln owners are disregarding the law, leading to severe environmental consequences.
Reports indicate that Meherpur has over a hundred brick kilns, around 70 of which are currently operating fixed chimney systems. Among them, only two are considered environmentally friendly Zigzag kilns—only one of which has an updated environmental clearance, while the other does not. As a result, bricks are being fired without approval from the Department of Environment. All these kilns are burning wood instead of coal, with fires blazing day and night in open view.
In contrast, due to strict enforcement, about 40 barrel-type chimney kilns have not been allowed to operate this season, which has spared local trees from being used as fuel.
Rafiqul Alam, advisor to the voluntary organization Subah Samajik Unnayan Sangstha, which works on environmental issues, stated that over 9 million maunds (roughly 337,500 tons) of wood are burned each season in these kilns. Both timber from protected forests and locally sourced trees are sold to meet the kiln demand. This leads to unchecked deforestation, and the resulting smoke pollutes the atmosphere, contributing to severe environmental degradation. He warned that if this continues, the consequences will be dire. According to the Brick Burning Control Act (1989 and 2001), kilns are not permitted on arable land, must use fixed chimneys, and burning wood is strictly prohibited.
Doctors have reported that the black smoke released from brick kilns causes respiratory issues, asthma, cancer, and other health complications. Additionally, carbon dioxide emissions from these kilns harm crops and the overall environment.
Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment in Kushtia, said that although two Zigzag kilns in Meherpur have received environmental clearance, only one is currently updated. Moreover, none of the 120-foot chimneys have valid permits. He assured that legal action will soon be taken against the use of wood in brick kilns.
Ataul Gani, Meherpur District Commissioner, stated that the administration has successfully shut down unauthorized tin-chimney kilns, and now efforts will be made to stop the burning of wood in fixed chimney kilns as well.
