Chattogram Bureau :
The High Court has ordered to silent all brickfields in Chattogram till March 14 following a writ petition filed by a lawyer alleging environmental pollution. In this situation, the workers working in the brick fields are in dare financial crisis. Besides, the kiln owners are worried about investing money with bank loans. Ismail Hossain, convener of the Chattogram District brick kiln Owners’ Association, told a press conference at Chittagong Press Club at 12 noon yesterday .
In a written statement, he said most of the development activities of the present government are in Chittagong region. In particular, construction of Karnafuli Tunnel, Hathazari-Fatikchhari Road via Ramgarh-Henyako, Hathazari-Rangamati Four Lane Road, Maheshkhali-Matarbari Coal Based Thermal Power Plant, Matarbari Deep Sea Port Project, Mirsarai Economic Zone , Bangabandhu shilpanagar and several other mega projects are underway. In this situation, such a decision of winding up brick kilns will hamper the ongoing development of the country.
He said the brick kilns business is being run through a valid license in compliance with the Bangladesh Brick Making and Kiln Establishment (Control) Act 2013 and the amended Draft Law of 2017. Chimneys with a maximum height of 120 feet, installation of zigzag kilns, use of coal instead of fuel wood have been ensured as per government guidelines. The government earns crores of takas annually from brick kilns in Chittagong. Ismail Hossain said there are 500 brickfields in Chittagong zones . Each brick kiln employs 600-700 workers daily. Their wages have to be paid before the work starts.
Along with this business, truck-jeep and Nasimon drivers, sand traders, rod-cement traders, hardware traders, masons, painters, building builders, electrical equipment business, pipe fitter business and all related businesses including wood business will be in extreme crisis. In the ongoing government development work in 15 upazilas and metropolis of Chittagong, more than 50 crore bricks are required and on an average more than two crore bricks are required in each upazila.
If the brick kiln is closed, the work of all the mega projects of the government will be complicated. Since no alternative method of brick has been created so far, the leaders of the Chittagong District Brick Owners’ Association expect the intervention of the Prime Minister in keeping the brick fields open and not closed. At the press meet announced to send a memorandum to the Prime Minister on February 28 demanding the reopening of the brick kilns and a human chain program in Chittagong on March 1 next.
