Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday directed the concerned bodies of the government to destroy all the illegal brick kilns installed in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Manikganj and Munshiganj districts in 15 days.
It has also asked the authorities to demolish within 15 days all other installations set up in the brick kilns in those areas.
The Director General of the Environment Department and five Deputy Commissioners of the five districts have been asked to comply with the direction and submit a compliance report in the court.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by a rights organization, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
Lawyer Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner, while lawyer Amatul Karim appeared for the Department of Environment and Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mynul Hasan represented the state.
Following the writ petition the High Court on January 13 in 2020 issued nine-point directives upon the government to reduce air pollution in Dhaka and four adjacent districts.
Air pollution started to fall as the authorities took some initiatives following the High Court directives. However, in recent days Dhaka became one of the top air polluted cities in the world.
In this circumstance, the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed a supplementary petition with the High Court seeking necessary orders. After hearing the High Court on February 1 this year directed the Deputy Commissioners of Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Manikganj and Munshiganj to submit lists of illegal brick kilns in those districts.
Connecting through the virtual process, the Deputy Commissioners of the districts told the High Court that hundreds of illegal brick kilns are being operated in the districts. After hearing the parties, the High Court on Tuesday passed the order.
