Chattogram Bureau :
The administration has demolished eight illegal brickfields in different areas of Raozan, Rangunia and Lohagara upazila of the district.
The illegal brickfields are Shah Amanat Bricks and Khwaja Bricks in Rangunia area, Medina Bricks and SBL Bricks in Raozan area and Shahpir Bricks, Chunti Bricks, Medina Auto Bricks and Akhtarabad Kalu Bricks in Lohagara area.
Jamir Uddin, deputy director of the environment department in Chattogram district, told media that the illegal brickfields were demolished in a day-long operation on Tuesday (February 18th) During the operation, eight illegal brick kilns and chimneys were demolished and the activities were stopped. Raw bricks and brick making equipment were destroyed.
Executive Magistrate of Chattogram District Administration Suraiya Yasmin led the operation in Rangunia Upazila, Executive Magistrate Ghalib Chowdhury led the operation in Raozan Upazila and Executive Magistrate Nurjahan Akter Sathy led the operation in Lohagara Upazila.
A writ petition was filed in the High Court on November 29 last year on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh seeking directions to take action against all illegal brick kilns, citing reports published in the relevant medias.
At the end of the preliminary hearing of the writ petition filed in the public interest on December 14 last t he High Court bench of Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Mohiuddin Shamim directed to take steps to stop all illegal brickfields in Chattogram within seven days.As per the court order, the district administration and the environment department started the process of closing the brickfields, but in some places including Lohagara and Chandnaish upazilas, they did not close the brickfields and imposed fines.
