Smoke and ash from three brick kilns in Chaugachha upazila of Jashore -- Waziullah Bricks, Sunny Bricks, and Hashem Brick Kiln -- are causing extensive damage to the environment and local agriculture.

Located at Kamalapur intersection on Chaugachha-Purapara road, the kilns operate near a school and farmlands, severely impacting the surrounding community.

Owned by Jilan Sheikh and Golam Rasul, respectively, Waziullah Bricks and Sunny Bricks have been accused of violating environmental regulations. Locals allege that these kilns burn wood to produce bricks, emitting dense smoke that degrades air quality. Additionally, they claim the kilns extract topsoil from nearby croplands, reducing soil fertility and leading to lower agricultural yields.

Farmers ‍Shaheen Mollah and Bablu Rahman said they had reached out to the kilns' owners, to no avail.

Local Billal Hossain said some farmers, including Amjad Hossain, Abdur Rahim, and Babu Rahman, sold their agricultural topsoil to the kilns, only to later experience significant drops in crop output.

The kilns have also created problems for students at a nearby school, who are forced to attend classes amid discomfort from the smoke and ash.

The open disposal of ash has left the schoolyard unsuitable for play. Moreover, discarded soil from the kilns spreads onto a paved road leading to Purapara Market, making it slippery and hazardous during the monsoon season.

Contacted, Mizanur Rahman Mizan, manager of Waziullah Bricks, said the kiln operates in compliance with environmental regulations and uses coal instead of wood, though coal is more expensive.

However, Emdadul Haque, deputy director of the Department of Environment (DoE) in Jashore, said only one kiln in the upazila has an environmental clearance certificate.

He said the certificate prohibits the use of topsoil from croplands, a rule that most kilns have ignored.

Touhid Dewan, president of the Chaugachha Upazila Kiln Owners Association, said delays in obtaining environmental clearance often force kiln operators to work without licenses.

Haque said 16 of the 17 kilns in the upazila are running illegally, contributing to the ongoing environmental and agricultural harm.

Moshabbir Hossain, upazila agriculture officer, said the total area of cropland in Chaugachha has decreased from 23,150 hectares to 22,565 hectares due to topsoil extraction by brick kilns.

Contacted, Md Azaharul Islam, deputy commissioner of Jashore, said licenses are issued only after thorough scrutiny to ensure compliance with government rules.

Regarding the allegations, he said they will look into the issue.