The Department of Environment has conducted mobile court drives in several districts on Sunday in a countrywide effort to protect the environment and control pollution.
In Natore, a team led by Executive Magistrate Md Rashedul Islam seized around 200kg of government-banned polythene shopping bags from a Bogura–Rajshahi bound bus of Jerin Paribahan at Madrasah Intersection.
One case was filed, and a fine of Tk 2,000 was imposed and realised on the spot. The law enforcement team from Natore Sadar Police Station assisted in maintaining order during the operation.
In Bogura, Executive Magistrate Taswar Tanzamul Haque conducted a mobile court against illegal brick kilns at Chandihara in Shibganj upazila. The M/S Elahi Box Brick Kiln was fined Tk 35,000 under the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, 2019.
The kiln owner was instructed to shift to producing eco-friendly block bricks or FAL-G bricks instead of burnt clay bricks.
In Lohagara upazila of Chattogram, Executive Magistrate Mong Echen led two separate mobile courts. The first drive targeted vehicles using illegal hydraulic horns on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar Highway, seizing four horns and realising a total fine of Tk. 4,000.
The second operation raided Abdul Kader’s polythene warehouse at Amirabad School Road, where 610kg of banned polythene shopping bags were confiscated.
The owner, Md Abdul Kader, was sentenced to 15 days of imprisonment and fined Tk 20,000. Inspector Muhammad Moinuddin Faisal of the DoE, Chattogram acted as the prosecutor in both operations.
In Naogaon, a mobile court confiscated 17kg of banned polythene and imposed a Tk 1,000 fine in one case. In Khulna, two separate mobile courts were conducted.
The first one, held at Pujakhola–Boyra area, fined a vehicle Tk 1,000 for emitting excessive black smoke, in violation of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended 2010).
The second drive, conducted under the project Integrated and Partnership-Based Approach to Noise Pollution Control, seized 19 hydraulic horns from 9 vehicles and collected Tk. 9,500 in fines. Both operations were led by Executive Magistrate Momtaz Begum.
The Department of Environment reaffirmed its commitment to continue such drives regularly across the country to curb environmental pollution, prevent illegal polythene use, control air and noise pollution, and promote eco-friendly practices.
