Harmful lead factories at Habigonj, Bangladesh, have closed down to protect the environment
The administration has closed down the illegal factory for making lead by burning batteries set up in the rubber garden at Bahubal Upazila in Habiganj District, Bangladesh. The factory concerned has also warned that strict legal action would take if such factories get set up in the future.
Mahua Sharmin Fatema, Upazila nirbahi officer, confirmed the closure of this factory on August 18, 2022.
Due to the factory, the environment of Bahubal Upazila has been seriously damaged. The court ordered the Department of Environment to investigate it. Later, Md. Ruhul Amin, Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land), and other officials went to the spot and ordered to stop it.
On August 17, Md Zakir Hossain, Senior Judicial Magistrate of Habiganj, ordered the Deputy Director of Habiganj Environment Department to investigate the matter by September 18, 2022.
According to the order, acid, lead, and other materials were collected by burning abandoned and useless batteries in an illegal factory in the Rupaishachara rubber garden of Bahubal Upazila. In this, the hill ranges and the environment has severely polluted.
As per the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act – 1995, and The Environment Conservation Rules, 1997, it is mandatory to follow the Act’s provisions in setting up and operating such factories.
However, the company did not follow the rules, a punishable offense. Even though the media published news about this, the Environment Department, Habigonj, did not file any case against the miscreants.
It is further said that for public interest and the sack of environmental protection, there is a need to conduct a detailed investigation on the people involved in the incident. And it should identify the accused and whether they committed any other crimes in addition to this.
For this reason, the court ordered to submit a report by September 18, 2022, through an official who is not below the rank of inspector and file a regular case according to the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 and Rules 1997.
Mizanur Rahman, Deputy Director of Habiganj Environment Directorate, said, “The copy of the court order has not yet arrived in my office. However, the issue has been seriously discussed in the district law and order committee meeting.”
