The government of Bangladesh has taken a decision to provide bank loans on easy terms to those involved in producing environment-friendly bricks, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin said today (January 25, 2023). The environment minister said this while talking to reporters after a meeting with deputy commissioners at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. The meeting also discussed protecting forests and actions of DCs to combat climate change impacts, he said. He also sought assistance from the DCs in stopping hill cutting, deforestation, establishment of illegal brick fields and soil cutting. The DCs were asked to take legal steps in this regard. Read More: COP27: Bangladesh prioritises realisation of green climate fund, Environment Minister tells UNB Replying to a question on any proposal coming from DCs, the minister said there are only 50 offices under the Department of Environment (DoE) in the 50 districts while the ministry has no office in the rest 14 districts. He also assured of establishing offices in the 14 districts. Besides, the DCs have been asked to stop operation of illegal brick kilns as the government has taken an initiative to use environment-friendly bricks for government structures by 2025. “The more we can provide eco-friendly bricks, the more we can stop production of illegal brick kilns. If we are able to meet the demand with eco-friendly block bricks, the old illegal brick kilns can be stopped,” he said. Read More: 2022 was fifth or sixth warmest on record as Earth heats up

Violating various government rules and regulations, illegal brick kilns continue to sprout in the districts adjacent to the capital casting hazardous impacts on the environment and people.