A local leader of Brickfield Owners’ Association has built a brick kiln on an arable land, also within half a kilometre from seven educational institutions at Puratan Thakurgaon village under Thakurgaon Sadar upazila, defying law and ignoring protest from the local students, teachers and farmers.During a visit to the spot on Wednesday this correspondent saw bringing of soil as preparation for making bricks as the chimney of the brick kiln named MB Bricks-2 has already been completed.
Anwar Hossain Lal, president of Thakurgaon, set up the brick kiln beside Thakurgaon-Ruhia road and just opposite to Puratan Thakurgaon Girls’ High School.
“We the teachers along with local people drew the attention of local administration to stop adjoining brick kiln to schools and college but no action was taken yet,” said Ramjan Ali, headmaster of Puratan Thakurgaon Girls’ High School.
SM Ataur Rahman, principal of Puratan Thakurgaon Technical and Business Management College, said, “Dust from the soil at the brick kiln is already disturbing our academic activities and posing health hazard to students and teachers. The situation will worsen when the brick burning starts.”
“The brick kiln has been set up on the land under the coverage of Burir Badth irrigation project. From the very beginning, we protested setting up of the brick kiln here in view of its negative impact on farming,” said Abu Sufiyan, president of Burir Badth irrigation project.
The village is also famous for cultivation of different fruits including litchi, mango and guava.
Contacted over cell phone, Anwar Hossain Lal, owner of the nearly completed brick kiln, said, “I am continuing the work for my brick field with the knowledge of Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Chandra Biswas. I also took permission from the Department of Environment three months ago.”
On the other hand, Osman Goni, assistant director of the Department of Environment in Rangpur, told this correspondent over cell phone that the office has not given any no-objection and clearance certificate for Lal’s brick kiln.
Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Chandra Biswas told this correspondent over cell phone that rules will be maintained to give licence for burning bricks.
The Brick Burning (Control) Act prohibits setting up of brick kilns within three kilometres of any human habitation, road, highway and fruit orchard, and on agricultural land.
(Our Correspondent)
