Even though using wood in brick kilns as fuel has been declared illegal, several brick kilns of Savar, outside the capital, have continued burning logs, much to the harm of the environment.

Over 200 brick kilns have been set up in Savar including 30 to 35 in Amin Bazar and 10 to 15 in Genda area, locals sources said.

While visiting some of the brick kilns -- such as Ms/Mahin Bricks Co (MBC) and Bangla Brick Kiln -- this correspondent saw that huge quantity of logs had been piled up at the brickfields to be used as fuel for making bricks.

Seeking anonymity, a worker of MBC in Sadullahpur area of Savar, said they burn 25 to 30 maunds of wood beside coal in the kiln daily.

Factory owner buy these wood for Tk 150 to Tk 180 per maund from several forest areas including Kaliakor and Modhupur in Gazipur, said the worker.

Many locals, wishing not to be named, alleged that the owner of MBC is a ruling party leader who uses wood in his brickfield defying the government ban.

However, The Daily Star correspondent could not reach him as his cell phone was switched off.

Workers at Bangla Brick Kiln in Genda area of Savar were also seen using wood and coal simultaneously as fuel defying government ban. However, neither the owner nor the workers agreed to talk to this correspondent.

A head technician of the brick kiln said although they use coal but they need 1,200 to 1,400 maunds of wood to keep the furnace burning as the kiln is quite old.

Most of the brick kilns in this area use huge amount of wood, he added.

Shamsul Hoque, secretary of a local environmental organisation Nodi o Paribesh Unnayan Parishad, said, “We often see that most of the brick kilns of Savar use jhut (scrap fabrics from garment factories), tire and wood beside coal for making bricks.”

Though use of wood is illegal but local administration does not take any action against those brick kilns as they get money from the owners, he alleged.

According to green activists and health experts, using wood in the brick kilns as fuel is not only a major cause of deforestation, it also has negative impacts on the environment in respect of air quality, human health and vegetation in particular as brick kilns emit huge amount of toxic fumes in the air.

“The smoke from burning wood round the clock here badly affects us,” said Montaz Uddin a resident of Genda area.

“Massive use of wood for making bricks has not only been reducing trees in our area but also damaging our crops and polluting the air, added Montaz.

Contacted, Abu Naser Beg, upazila nirbahi officer of Savar, said “I do not know that brick kilns in this area are burning wood for making bricks. Please send me a list of those. I will take action against them.”

Brick Kiln Act-2013 does not allow use of wood for brick burning, said Md Alamgir, director of the Department of Environment (DoE), Dhaka region, adding, recently they have conducted a drive at several illegal brick kilns in Savar.

During the drive two brick kilns were fined TK 2 lakh for using wood in the brickfields, the director said, adding, the drives will continue.