Shut illegal brick kilns in CHT in a week: HC

The High Court today directed the government to shut down illegal brick kilns, which are running without licences in Khagrachhari, Bandarban, and Rangamati, in seven days to curb pollution and to save the environment.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Fatema Najib gave the directives following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) seeking its directives.

The HC also asked the authorities to submit a report after complying with the directive in two weeks.

The deputy commissioners of three Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) districts and the offices of the department of environment concerned have been ordered to submit separate lists of the brick kilns which have no licence in six weeks.

At the same time, the court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why its inaction to close the brick fields should not be declared illegal.