Local brick kiln owners and workers have withdrawn their blockade from the Dhaka-Aricha highway after staging demonstration for nearly two hours on Wednesday.
Savar Model Police Station’s Officer-in-charge (OC) Md Jewel Mia confirmed the development.
Earlier around 10am, the protesters blocked the highway, halting traffic movement near the Varkuta Bhanga Bridge in Turag area.
The protesters were demanding that the brick kilns be allowed to remain operational, as the district-upazila administration and the Department of Environment are conducting drives against illegal brick kilns, said Savar Highway Police Station’s Officer-in-charge (OC) Saleh Ahmed.
According to the owners, when the drives started last year following the court’s directive, the court had said those who are legal can remain. If Savar had been declared a Degraded Air Shed last year, they would not have invested this year.
They said they did not want to pollute Dhaka’s environment, but they must be given time for this season.
