The Department of Environment (DoE) fined three brick kilns a total of Tk12 lakh and ordered their closure for violating environmental laws during a drive in Saghata upazila of Gaibandha.
The drive was conducted on Wednesday afternoon. According to the mobile court, M/s BMK-2 Bricks was fined Tk5 lakh M/S ARB Bricks Tk4 lakh, and M/S Seven Star Bricks Tk350 lakh.
The fines were collected on the spot, and the three kilns were instructed to cease brick-burning operations immediately.
The drive was led by Executive Magistrate Md Sazzad Jahid Ratul from the Monitoring and Enforcement Wing of DoE headquarters in Dhaka. Inspector Md Sher Alam from the Gaibandha district office acted as prosecutor.
Others present during the drive included Assistant Commissioner of Gaibandha district administration Romen Pal and Assistant Director of the Department of Environment Uttam Kumar, among other officials.
Members of the police and RAB assisted in maintaining law and order.
Sazzad said illegal brick kilns are contributing to rising air pollution and causing severe adverse impacts on agricultural land and biodiversity in the area.
He added that such drives against illegal activities will continue regularly to protect the environment and public health.
