64 illegal brick kilns shut in 3 CHT districts

Local administrations have shut down operations of a total 64 illegal brick kilns in the areas of Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) in compliance with a High Court directive to curb pollution and to save the environment.

The deputy commissioners of Khagrachhari, Bandarban, and Rangamati districts said this in the three separate reports submitted to the HC today.

Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy placed the reports before the HC during hearing a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) in line with its earlier directive.

According to the reports, 16 illegal brick kilns were closed at five upazilas in Rangamati, 34 were shut down at eight upazilas in Khagrachhari and 14 were shut down in three upazilas in Bandarban.

The bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Fatema Najib asked the DCs to submit complete lists of the illegal brick kilns running without licence in the districts by March 9, writ petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star.

Following the same petition, the HC bench on January 25 directed the authorities concerned of the government to shut down illegal brick kilns, which are running without licence in Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati in seven days to submit separate reports to it after complying with the directive in two weeks.