A joint drive by Rab and the Department of Environment (DoE) slapped the fine on Thursday.
Rab-9 deputy commander Major Md Shawkatul Monaem and DoE Sylhet office Director Mohammad Imran Hossain led the drive, Rab said in a press release on Friday.
A research report by the DoE and the World Bank published in March last year on the sources of air pollution in Bangladesh identified three main sources –brick kilns, fumes of vehicles and dust from construction sites.
Read Also: 8 illegal brick kilns fined Tk62 lakh in Gazipur
“Brick kilns are responsible for 58 percent air pollution in the capital. Plans have been taken to shut [traditional] kilns currently in operation. We’re working to produce eco-friendly bricks,” Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin had told UNB.
He said the government plans to stop burning bricks at kilns by 2025 and use block bricks to construct buildings under government projects.
Kiln owners have already been directed to produce 10 percent block bricks, the minister said, adding that it will be increased to 100 percent over time and the use of block bricks will gradually be made mandatory in private projects, too.
Read Also: Illegal brick kilns still continue to thrive in Gazipur
In a series of directives in January, the High Court had asked DoE to shut down illegal brick kilns within two months.
The DoE has been conducting drives against the illegal brick kilns for months now and slapping fines.
Read Also: Air pollution should be treated as national crisis: Environment Minister