3 divisional commissioners summoned over failure to address illegal brick kilns

The High Court has summoned the divisional commissioners of Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna to explain their failure to take effective action against illegal brick kilns and the use of wood as fuel in these kilns.

Additionally, the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and the Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) of Savar and Dhamrai have also been summoned to explain their inaction.

A High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury issued the order on Wednesday (January 29), follows a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh in 2022 to halt the operations of illegal brick kilns.

They are required to appear in court on February 12 to provide an explanation, according to the court order.

The court had previously issued a rule on November 13, 2022, ordering authorities to stop these illegal kilns.

Despite this, the divisional commissioners failed to take sufficient action. On November 28, 2023, the court instructed them to shut down the illegal brick kilns. However, upon reviewing their reports, it was found that many of the kilns that had been officially closed were still operating, with new illegal kilns continuing their activities.

As a result, a supplementary application was filed requesting that the divisional commissioners of Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna, as well as the DCs of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram, and the UNOs of Savar and Dhamrai appear in court to provide an explanation for their failure to enforce the court’s order.