An initiative has been taken to close down about three hundred illegal brick kilns in Chittagong district which have been built illegally under the influence of power. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the advisor in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has already given instructions in this regard. Chittagong district administration has started the process of taking effective action in this regard.

According to the information of the District Environment Department, there are at least 350 brick kilns in Raujan, Rangunia, Hathazari, Fatikchari, Mirsrai, Sitakunda, Boalkhali, Dohazari and Satkania upazilas of Chittagong. Among them, at least three hundred brick kilns have no validity. The influential leaders of the Bigam government built these brick kilns without considering any regulations of the administration and environment department. Allegedly, bricks were being made in these brick kilns for the last 15 years by burning trees for the value of reserved forests and privately owned forests.

According to the information received, Chittagong has the most brick kilns in Raujan and Rangunia upazilas of Chittagong. Especially the former foreign minister. Hashan Mahmud’s constituency has the largest number of illegal brick kilns in Chittagong. Almost two hundred illegal brick kilns have been running for years under the direct leadership of Engineer Shamsul Alam, General Secretary of Rangunia Upazila Awami League, who is close to Hasan Mahmud.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan—adviser in charge of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said that all brick kilns without environmental clearance will be closed. No new brick kilns will be allowed. Meanwhile, soon after the advisor’s announcement, the Chittagong district administration is said to be starting the process to stop the illegal brick kilns.