Smaller bricks violating govt building code

INCREDIBLY a section of unscrupulous brick kiln owners in Lalmonirhat are producing and selling bricks smaller than the standard size while realizing price for standard size violating the government construction code and cheating buyers. A daily reported on Friday on the unscrupulous business to raise eyebrows of people how far dishonesty is now overtaking fair business practice. But such cheating is at work for the last three years as per reports raising question how they have been able to deceive the eyes of law enforcers. The other question may be that field officials know of it and allowing it taking bribes.

This is an alarming development coming to the fore to individuals as well as to construction industry, which builds homes, and other infrastructure based on the standard size of bricks. Now those producers have downscale the size by half inch on all sides – length, breadth and width prompting question how construction can be completed at specific size with smaller bricks. In that case either one has to use more cement or other materials to maintain the standard size at higher cost or finish the work with smaller bricks cheating people or bribing construction engineers to wrap up the work. One estimate suggest that masons will have to use 1100 smaller bricks now instead of 1000 if one has to build a home with standard specification.

We must say this is a dangerous trend criminalizing the brick industry with its multiple setback over the entire construction industry if it continues to spread throughout the country. It is a big challenge to our social integrity beyond the brick industry and its spread will only spread corruption and lawlessness. It will bring further demoralization with the breakdown of whatever ethics still exists. Continuation of production and sale of smaller bricks will only force the government be review construction annual and individuals’ plan to build homes will also face setback many ways.

We must say brick kiln owners must be refrained from cheating and must be punished if they don’t stop the practice immediately. Both law enforcers and field inspectors of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) should take the issue seriously to end the crime and stop its spread. We know every brick kiln is under the supervision of BSTI and Directorate of Environment, there is no way that the kiln owners will be able to cheat the people if they carry out their duty properly. Meanwhile people’s awareness must be developed against the malpractice.

Report said buyers and contractors already complained their expenditures have significantly increased due to smaller bricks. In our view the issue must be sternly dealt with before its spreads at other parts of the country.