HC summons divisional officers asking why illegal kilns not closed, wood still used as fuel
The High Court has summoned three divisional commissioners, three deputy commissioners and two upazila nirbahi officers seeking explanation for their failure to take effective steps to close illegal brick kilns and stop the use of wood as fuel in kilns.
The divisional commissioners of Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna; the DCs of Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and the UNOs of Savar and Dhamrai upazilas have been asked to appear before the court on 12 February and provide an explanation.
The High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury passed the order today (29 January) while hearing a petition.
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Advocate Manzil Morshed stood for the petition in the court while Deputy Attorney General Tanim Khan represented the state.
Lawyer Manzil Morshed told the media that Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) filed a writ petition in public interest in 2022 to stop the activities of illegal unlicensed brick kilns throughout Bangladesh. After hearing the writ petition, the court issued a rule on 13 November 2022, ordering the defendants to stop the activities of illegal brick kilns.
Since the divisional commissioners have not taken effective steps in this regard so far, on 28 November last year, the court directed the divisional commissioners of each division to take effective steps to stop the illegal brick kilns.
After receiving the order, the divisional commissioner submitted a report to the court and on reviewing the report, it was seen that the names of the previously closed brick kilns have been added to the list of closed brick kilns and all the illegal brick kilns are operating their activities.
Since they could not take appropriate steps in this regard, a supplementary application was filed on behalf of HRPB to the court to request the divisional commissioners of Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna and the deputy commissioners of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram and the executive officers of Savar and Dhamrai upazilas to appear in court and provide this explanation.
