HC orders govt to demolish 14 brick kilns in Hori, Bhadra rivers

The High Court today directed the government to demolish and evict 14 illegal brick kilns constructed within the boundaries of Bhadra and Hori Rivers in Khulna and submit a compliance report before 60 days.

The HC passed the order after going through the list of names of the brick kilns and their owners submitted by the deputy commissioner's office of the district. The list was submitted in compliance with the earlier order of the HC.  

The bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah came up with the order during the hearing a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) on February 22 this year, seeking necessary directives on the government to take steps to ensure the free flow of water of the two rivers.

The bench also fixed February 22 next year for further hearing and passing order on the petition.

During today's hearing, petitioner's lawyer Manzill Murshid prayed to the HC that some influential locals along, including people holding public office, are illegally operating brick kilns in the land of two important rivers and those need to be evicted.

Following a writ petition, the HC bench on February 25 ordered the authorities to maintain status quo on land grabbing, earth filling, and operating brick kilns on the land of the Bhadra and Hori rivers and also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why their inaction to stop such activities should not be declared illegal.

The writ petitioner said lawmaker of Khulna-5 (Dumuria-Phultola) Narayan Chandra Chanda, also a former fisheries and livestock minister, Dumuria upazila Chairman Ajaz Ahmed, local union parishad Chairman Human Kabir Bulu, and many others were reportedly involved in the acts of land grabbing and operating brick kilns on river land, which was obstructing the flow of the rivers.

The rights body submitted the petition following a report run by The Daily Star on February 12 under the headline "Brick Kilns in Khulna's Dumuria: United they kill rivers".