Five Illegal Brick Kilns Shut Down in Dhamrai
In a joint enforcement drive conducted by the Department of Environment (DoE), Dhaka District Office, and the Monitoring and Enforcement Wing of the DoE Headquarters, five illegal brick kilns located in Sutipara and Rowail areas of Dhamrai upazila were shut down today. A total fine of BDT 1,500,000 was imposed and collected, with each of the following brick kilns fined BDT 300,000: Messrs Raisur & Samsuddin Bricks, Messrs Threestar Bricks, Messrs Lion Bricks, Messrs Dada Bricks, and Messrs S.N. Bricks & Co.
On the same day, two additional brick kilns—Messrs Mahi Bricks and Messrs ABC Bricks—located in Kulla and Rowail areas of Dhamrai were dismantled by demolishing their chimneys, and their operations were completely shut down. Furthermore, Messrs DSB Recycling Plant in Rowail was also demolished, bringing its operations to a complete halt.
The mobile court was led by Executive Magistrate Md. Rezwan-ul-Islam of the Department of Environment. Md. Nazmul Hossain, Assistant Director of the Dhaka District Office, served as the prosecutor. Present during the operation were Syed Forhad Hossain, Director of the Monitoring and Enforcement Wing; Md. Elias Mahmud, Deputy Director, Dhaka District Office; Inspector Nayon Kumar Roy; and Inspector S.M. Monjur-ul-Alam. Members of Bangladesh Police, a platoon of RAB, a team from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, and personnel from the Palli Bidyut Samity provided necessary support.
Meanwhile, a separate joint mobile court was conducted today by the Department of Environment and BRTA in the Shyamoli–Shishumela area of Dhaka. During this operation, exhaust emissions from 20 diesel-powered buses, trucks, and lorries were measured using a Smoke Opacity Meter. For violations of Section 6(1) of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended 2010), fines totaling BDT 14,000 were realized across four cases. Additionally, two vehicles using hydraulic horns were fined BDT 4,000 in total for violating Rule 8(1) of the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006.
This mobile court was led by Executive Magistrate Fayzunnessa Akter of the Monitoring and Enforcement Wing, DoE Headquarters, with prosecution conducted by Md. Fokhr Uddin Chowdhury, Assistant Director of the DoE Dhaka Laboratory.