High Court orders closure of all illegal brick kilns nationwide, report due by 14 December
The High Court has directed all divisional commissioners and the director general of the Department of Environment to close illegal brick kilns across the country. A report on compliance with the order must be submitted to the court by 14 December.
A High Court bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan passed the order on Thursday (12 November).
Senior lawyer Manjil Morshed appeared for the petitioner. Lawyer Mohammad Ali represented the brick kiln owners, and lawyer Muntasir Uddin Ahmed appeared for the Department of Environment.
Lawyer Manjil Morshed said that in a public interest litigation filed by HRPB, the High Court issued a rule on 13 November 2022 directing action against illegal brick kilns.
At one stage, the brick kiln owners' association filed an application in the case seeking a modification of the court's order. But the court directed that all illegal brick kilns be closed and a report submitted to the court. After that direction, eviction drives began.
Later, the kiln owners sought a modification to keep zigzag brick kilns outside the order. After the hearing, the High Court modified the owners' application but kept the eviction order for illegal brick kilns in force.
After that order, various kiln owners filed multiple appeals seeking a stay on the order but did not obtain one. The appeals were later dismissed in the Appellate Division.
Manjil Morshed also said that after reports emerged that various illegal brick kiln owners were preparing to resume their activities, an application was filed on behalf of HRPB asking the court for a report on implementation of the directives on removing illegal brick kilns.
After hearing all sides, the court granted HRPB's application and directed the Department of Environment and all divisional commissioners to take steps in line with the court's earlier directives to close all illegal brick kilns in Bangladesh and to submit a report.
At the same time, the court directed that owners of legal brick kilns must not be harassed.
