A mobile court has fined two auto rice mill owners a total of Tk 100,000 for polluting the Dakatia River and illegally dumping waste in Chandpur town on Thursday afternoon.

The mobile court, jointly conducted by the Department of Environment (DoE) district office and the district administration, was carried out in the New Market area of Chandpur town.

Assistant Commissioners and Executive Magistrates of the Deputy Commissioner's Office, Md Masud Rana and Md Rahmat Ullah, led the drive.

According to the district office of the Department of Environment, the mills had been discharging rice husk, ash and hot water used for boiling paddy into the Dakatia River in violation of the Environment Conservation Act, causing serious pollution.

During the drive, the mobile court found two auto rice mills guilty and imposed fines amounting to Tk 100,000. Of the total amount, M/s Bismillah Auto Rice Mill was fined Tk 40,000, while M/s New Pubali Auto Rice Mill was fined Tk 60,000.

The court also directed the mill authorities to immediately stop dumping waste into the river and remove the rice husk and ash already deposited there to keep the Dakatia River free from pollution.

Deputy Director of the Department of Environment's Chandpur office, Md Mizanur Rahman, and Inspector Sharmita Ahmed Lia were present during the drive. A team from the district police also assisted the mobile court.

Md Mizanur Rahman said indiscriminate dumping of industrial waste, rice husk and ash into the river is disrupting the ecological balance and posing a serious threat to aquatic life and the local environment.

He said such drives would continue as part of the Department of Environment's efforts to protect the environment and prevent pollution.