Brick kiln owners set up sawmills despite ban

Although the government has banned the use of fuel wood in brick kilns for environment protection, some unscrupulous brick kiln owners in Harinakundu upazila have set up sawmills near the kilns, ignoring the government rules.

All three brick kilns at Dakhalpur village have violated the rules. The local administration says action will be taken against their owners. Environment activists are also demanding exemplary punishment for these brick kiln owners.

However, the brick kiln owners claim that timber merchants have set up the saw mills near their kilns.

During a visit to Bojoli Bricks, Stone Bricks, and Royal Bricks (kilns) in Dakhalpur village, this correspondent found sawmills near the kilns and huge stacks of logs piled up there.

Locals say Bojoli Bricks and Stone Bricks usually manufacture about one crore pieces of bricks every season by burning around one lakh maunds of fuel wood. Newly established Royal Bricks is believed to use the same quantity of wood.

According to them, the brick kiln owners use their influence to thwart any protest against the use of wood and environmental degradation. Earlier, the local administration demolished the sawmill near Stone Bricks, but it has been revived.

Stone Bricks owner Makbul Hossain said they did not establish the sawmill. "A mill owner has set the lumber mill up. The kiln is merely procuring wood from the mill," he added.

Royal Bricks owner Farooque Hossain admitted that wood was being used as fuel in his kiln instead of coal.

Jhenidah Bio-diversity Conservation Committee president Masud Ahmed Sanju wondered why the local administration was not taking legal action against the law violators.  Harinakundu UNO Syeda Nafis Sultana said she would take legal steps against the brick kiln owners as early as possible.

 

Brick kiln owners set up sawmills despite ban

Although the government has banned the use of fuel wood in brick kilns for environment protection, some unscrupulous brick kiln owners in Harinakundu upazila have set up sawmills near the kilns, ignoring the government rules. All three brick kilns at Dakhalpur village have violated the rules. The local administration says action will be taken against their owners. Environment activists are also demanding exemplary punishment for these brick kiln owners. However, the brick kiln owners claim that timber merchants have set up the saw mills near their kilns. During a visit to Bojoli Bricks, Stone Bricks, and Royal Bricks (kilns) in Dakhalpur village, this correspondent found sawmills near the kilns and huge stacks of logs piled up there. Locals say Bojoli Bricks and Stone Bricks usually manufacture about one crore pieces of bricks every season by burning around one lakh maunds of fuel wood. Newly established Royal Bricks is believed to use the same quantity of wood. According to them, the brick kiln owners use their influence to thwart any protest against the use of wood and environmental degradation. Earlier, the local administration demolished the sawmill near Stone Bricks, but it has been revived. Stone Bricks owner Makbul Hossain said they did not establish the sawmill. A mill owner has set the lumber mill up. The kiln is merely procuring wood from the mill, he added. Royal Bricks owner Farooque Hossain admitted that wood was being used as fuel in his kiln instead of coal. Jhenidah Bio-diversity Conservation Committee president Masud Ahmed Sanju wondered why the local administration was not taking legal action against the law violators. Harinakundu UNO Syeda Nafis Sultana said she would take legal steps against the brick kiln owners as early as possible.