The High Court has directed to submit the list of illegal brick kilns
The High Court has ordered the submission of a list of unlawful brick kilns in Dhaka’s five districts and surrounding areas. On February 3, 2022, a High Court panel comprised of Justice Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Iqbal Kabir issued the ruling.
Gazipur, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, and Manikganj are the other four districts besides Dhaka District under Dhaka Division. Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a human rights and environmental organization, filed the supplemental appeal on January 30, citing media reports regarding the greatest level of pollution in Dhaka and illegal brick kilns management.
Senior lawyer Manzil Morshed represented the court on behalf of the petitioner. Lawyers Amatul Karim, Saeed Ahmed, and Muniruzzaman attended on behalf of the environment department, Dhaka South City Corporation, and the fire service & civil defense department, respectively.
The High Court ordered the Directorate General of Fire Service and Civil Defense to spray water at different sites, including Gabtali, Jatrabari, Purbachal, Keraniganj, and Tongi under Dhaka South and North City corporations to reduce air pollution, following a writ suit submitted by HRPB on February 10 last year.
During the hearing, lawyer Muniruzzaman stated that the fire department was spraying water near-daily following the court’s ruling. However, they do not have the necessary equipment for dust removal or water sprinklers. As a result, water is dispersed via pipes.
On the other hand, lawyer Manzil Morshed said that pollution had reached a critical level, claiming that the court had given various instructions, including the closure of illegal brickfields, but that had not followed.
As no effective actions have been executed as per the guidelines, citizens’ health hazards increase. Later, lawyer Manzil Morshed said that the High Court had ordered the deputy commissioners of five districts and the director-general of the environment department to participate in a virtual court on February 15 and present a list of illegal brick kilns in five districts. According to the High Court’s order, the situation is not improving despite numerous rulings.
