The High Court on Monday directed to shut down all the brick kilns operating without any license across Dinajpur and Moulvibazar district within seven days.
The court also directed the Deputy Commissioners of the districts and director of the Environment Department to submit a list of these illegal kilns within the next six weeks in affidavit format.
The bench of Justice JBM Hasan and Fatema Najib passed the order during a hearing on the writ filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
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The court asked to be informed of the development in this regard within two weeks and issued a rule as to why respondents' inactivity to shut these brick kilns will not be declared illegal.
Lawyer Monjil Morshed presented the petitioner’s side assisted by advocate Sanjay Mandal while Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy appeared for the state.
Advocate Monjil Morshed said according to Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2019, no brick kiln without a license can operate in the country and its owners will be punished for two years in jail for doing so.
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But the administration did not take any action against the illegal kilns that are operating across Dinajpur and Moulvibazar which are harming the environment and creating health risks, he said.
Following the reports published in different media, HRPB filed the writ petition in public interest, he said.