Non-compliant kilns damaging ecosystem across Bangladesh

A large number of brick kilns across the country are running without compliance, causing a serious impact on the environment, according to a study.

An estimated 35 percent of the kilns are also operating without taking any environmental clearance certificate from the government agency concerned.

Poribesh Bachao Andolon [Save the Environment or POBA], a green rights movement, made the revelation in its study on Saturday.

The findings were presented at a press conference hosted at POBA office in the capital's Kalabagan area, reads a statement.

POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan chaired the programme where POBA general secretary Abdus Sobhan, also former additional director general of environmental directorate, presented a keynote.

Former government officials, POBA members and rights activists, among others, were present at the event.

The keynoter says many brick fields are breaching laws, adding that there are unregistered ones too.

As many as 2,831 or 35 percent out of 8,065 brick kilns are running without any environmental clearance, he cites.

Even many kilns in coastal, hilly and Barind belts do not provide all information to the directorate, according to Mr Sobhan.

The POBA's field survey and data analysis discloses 10,723 brick kilns in operation in Bangladesh.

Of the total fields, the keynote reads, 3,960 use more than 120 feet permanent kilns, 5,840 zigzag kilns and 750 drum chimneys.

Only 150 or 1.4 percent of them utilise modern technology for brick manufacturing which is a must for the environment safeguard, it states.

Addressing the event, Mr Sobhan said the country does not reap the benefits of forestation, which has become a social movement in recent years, for environmental hazards from non-compliant kilns.

The keynote also presented a 10-point recommendation, including proper implementation of existing laws, penalty for offence and strict monitoring.

The platform called a halt to high-sulphur coal use in kilns and those using obsolete brick-making technology, and also sought greater interaction among regulators.