Md. Mosabbir Ali, Kulaura (M,bazar) :
The government has banned setting up of brick kilns near crop land, human habitation and forests, but a number of influential people violating the laws have set up brick fields near human habitations in Moulvibazar district.
According to Burning of Bricks (control) Amendment Act 2010, setting up brick field within three kilometres of farmland, forest, township and human habitation area is illegal. But a section of influential people have done so in the district, defying rules.
While this correspondent, visited in Barlekha-Kulaura-Shamsernagor-Kamalganj road in Moulvibazar recent and found total 15 brick kilns covering farmland.
A farmer of Kotarkuna area in Kulaura Upazila told this correspondent with anonymity said the brick kiln owners are very powerful. They are all time pressure to buy fertility land. In this cause crops on land adjacent to the brick kiln are being badly affected and land become arable. Topsoil is the portion of soil that can be turned over by a ploughshare.
M/S Monu Brick kiln in Koterkuna area in Kulaura Upazila under Moulvibazar district, brick kiln was set up covering five acres of land at Tilagaon village. Its Manager Mithu Chakrabarty told this correspondent, owner set up the kiln here as the site is beside the road, which is convenient for transportation. This land is owner’s land.
Md Nurul Mohmain Milton, General Secretary of Environmentalist Journalist Forum told this correspondent referring to the crucial issue, 90% brick kilns on the agricultural lands in the Moulvibazar district.
He alleged that had set up a brick field on a farmland which is adjacent to a populated area under the nose of local administration, much to cause serious harm to arable land as well as environment. He said, most of the brick kiln owners are putting pressure on me to sell my land to him. He said locals did not dare to raise voices against them because he is very powerful.
Shaheda Akther, coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association{BELA} in Sylhet division told this correspondent many people are setting up brick kilns, violating the existing law.
We fear serious harm to the environment as brick kilns has been established in farmland which is near human habitation.
She said local administration should take immediate steps to keep the environment free from pollution.
Mohammad Shahjahan, deputy director of Agricultural extension department of Moulvibazar told this correspondent, paddy production can be deduced if any one builds brick kiln on agricultural land.
Chowdhury Mohammad Golam Rabby, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar district told this correspondent, deputy commissioner’s (DC) office can give permission to set up a kiln.
Md. Salahuddin Ahmed, director of the Department of Environment in Sylhet said, we do not give permission only issued environmental certificates for brick kilns.
Contacted, Tofail Islam, deputy commission of Moulvibazar said, we will take necessary steps if anyone violates the law.
