Illegal brick kilns inside the forest in Cox’s Bazar, the environment is under threat
A brick kiln has been built inside the forest in Cox’s Bazar. Forest trees are being cut for the furnace. The wood is burning. The soil of hills and crops is cut and supplied to brick kilns. Besides the existence of the environment, the biodiversity of the protected forests is under threat.
Animal health is at risk. People say that the environmental administration is not taking action against the growing number of brick kilns that are breaking the law. These brick kilns have been running for many years due to the change of hands of influential people.
Burning bricks with forest wood is against the law, but the Environment Department, Bangladesh and local administration are not taking any action. On the other hand, the Brick Burning Control Act states that no brick kiln can be set up within at least three kilometers, not even within a reserved forest.
There were 85 unregistered and expired brick kilns have been found in different Upazilas of Cox’s Bazar, as reported by the District Administration, Forest and Environment Department.
There are 25 in Ukhia Upazila and adjacent areas. More than 1.2 million bricks are produced every day by burning forest wood. Out of these, 33 brick kilns are located within reserved forest areas.
Most kilns use wood to make bricks, but they can’t be forced to leave because of legal issues. As a result, biodiversity is also being destroyed along with deforestation.
Even a few years ago herds of wild elephants roamed freely. There is no movement and wandering of these in environment-destructive activities.
Gazi Shafiul Alam, chief of the Ukhia range, said that two-thirds of the 21,000 hectares of forest land in his area are vacant. Hundreds of acres of land have been stolen and uprooted.
A group of professional loggers are using the Rohingyas to cut down forest trees, turning forests into wastelands. However, after coming to this range, the forest has actually turned into a suburb.
According to the relevant information, there are 118 brick kilns in Ramu, Teknaf, Naikhongchhari, Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Eidgaon, Peku, Moheshkhali and Kutubdia Upazilas.
Of these, 33 brick kilns have been constructed within three kilometers of the reserved forest area, 54 brick kilns are built in different villages, but despite these, there is no permission from the Department of Environment, Bangladesh, and no license from the district administration.
Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, President of Amara Cox’s Bazar district branch of Dharitri Raksha, an environmentalist organization, said that the fertile soil of agricultural land, hill and hill soil is being used in more than 60 kilns. Daily 15 to 2 million bricks are being produced with these soils.
According to the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (control) Act.2013, setting up of brick kilns within a distance of three kilometers from the boundaries of reserved forest areas is prohibited.
Brick kilns are not allowed in government of Bangladesh or privately owned forests, sanctuaries, gardens, wetlands, and agricultural lands under the law. Digging soil from farmland, hills, and mountains for making bricks and using wood as fuel is not allowed.
Saiful Islam, assistant director of Environment Department of Cox’s Bazar office, said that in February, 10, 2024, illegal brick kilns in Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Eidgaon and Ramu Upazilas were raided and fined TK 3.3 million. Production was stopped after several steam fires were extinguished. A few steam furnaces were also demolished.
