The High Court has asked the authorities concerned of the government to shut down all illegal brick kilns and stop the use of firewood for making bricks across the country within seven days.
The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Md Shohrowardi came up with the order following a petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
The Cabinet Secretary, Senior Secretary of Public Administration Ministry and Secretary of Environment Ministry have been asked to give instructions in this regard. President of HRPB Manzil Morshed confirmed the matter.
Earlier on November 7, the same HC bench ordered the authorities concerned to demolish all illegal brick kilns in four districts--Bogura, Tangail, Lalmonirhat and Thakurgaon.
The HC bench had also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned as to why their inaction to close down the brick kilns should not be declared illegal.
The HC bench has also asked the authority concerned to make a complete list of all illegal brick kilns in the country and submit the list within the next two weeks. The order came from the higher court after hearing on the writ petition filed by HRPB.
Advocate Manzil Morshed said that despite the existence of provisions that no brickfield can be constructed without licence, illegal building of such infrastructure continues unabated in the country. No brickfield can be set up and operated without licence as per the Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act.
About 7,000 brick kilns are now operating across the country and many of them are unauthorised while many authorised ones flout directives regarding safety measures.
