Human bond in Kurigram demanding amendment of Brick Making and Kiln Installation Act.

 Saifur Rahman Shamim, Kurigram : 27.11.2022

 According to the Brick Making and Kiln Installation Control Act, the Brick Makers Owners Association has submitted a memorandum to the PM in Kurigram demanding the approval and license of zigzag brick kilns and solving the current coal crisis. After an hour-long human bonding in front of the Kurigram District Commissioner’s office on Sunday afternoon, a memorandum was handed over to the Prime Minister through the District Commissioner.  Md. Lutfar Rahman Baksi, General Secretary of Brick Manufacturers Association, read the written statement in human bond. Md. Golam Mostafa, brick kiln owner, Md. Shahjahan Mia, Ahsanul Islam Ritu, etc. also spoke at this time.

 General Secretary Md. Lutfar Rahman Baksi said that although zigzag kilns are mentioned in the Brick Kiln Control Act 2013 as a legal system, most of the zigzag kilns in the country are illegal due to the “distance determination” in sub-sections 8(3) (e) and 8(3) (b) of the said law.  As a result, the owners are not getting clearance and license.  According to the sub-section of the said Act, no place for setting up of brick kilns will be found anywhere in Bangladesh.  Even though we applied to the Department of Environment many times, the said clause has not been changed so far.  Department of Environment Brick Preparation and Kiln Installation (Regulation) Act 2013 Although the Ministry of Environment issued a notification in 2019, some sections were amended, but no changes were made in the subsections of the Act.

To keep the development wheel of the country moving, the owners of the kilns sought the prime minister’s kind attention to amend the environmental law and give the opportunity to operate the legal zigzag brick kilns by issuing brick kiln licenses and permits till the year 2030 and to solve the ongoing coal crisis during the peak season of brick kilns. After the tie-up, the owners of the brick kilns presented a memorandum to the Prime Minister through Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rezaul Karim.