Attack on Environment Department officials in Madaripur, Bangladesh
Environment Department officials and fire service officials got attacked while raiding illegal brick kilns in Madaripur. The incident occurred in the Panchkhola area of Sadar Upazila. Six Government officials, including the Deputy Director of the Environment Department, were injured.
According to police and fire service sources, a team led by Executive Magistrate Noreen Haque of the Environment Department conducted a raid at JSB Bricks in the Panchkhola area based on the complaint that 11 brick kilns of Panchkhola Union of Sadar Upazila operate without regard to the rules.
At that time, several hundred workers of Bhata under the leadership of Sobahan Fakir, the owner of JSB Bricks, threw bricks at the officials of the Department of Environment and vandalized an excavator machine at that time.
On receiving the information, the Metro police station reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
After that, Noreen Haque, the Executive Magistrate, raided JSB Bricks-3, ARG Bricks, Khan Bricks-3, ASB Bribs, JSB Bricks-2, Anwan Khan Bricks in the Panchkhola area and imposed a fine of BDT.0.25 million on each of them and a total of BDT.0.165 million on Amena Bricks.
Mahtab Uddin, Station Officer of Madaripur Fire Service, said, “Wood is burnt instead of coal in JSB Bricks. Due to this irregularity, the steam workers started throwing bricks at us when we went to supply water to the steam furnace. Three of our members, including myself, have been injured then.”
Bachchu Mia, Sub-inspector of Metro police station, said, “The police rushed to the spot and controlled the situation after receiving information about the attack.
However, no one could arrest due to the many low-tide workers. Sobahan Fakir, who led the attack, has absconded since the incident.
He was not found in Bhata after that. Legal action will take if a written complaint gets made to the Environment Directorate Police Station.”
Naureen Haque, Executive Magistrate, claimed six to seven people, including the DD of the Environment Department, were injured in the attack. The injured persons received first aid.
Legal action will take in this regard. There was a plan to demolish the illegal kilns with excavators. However, it was not possible to demolish the kilns as the excavator driver got damaged. However, seven kilns have been penalized.
