An illegal brick kiln adjacent to Sabdul Sarker Government Primary School in Gouripur upazila of the district poses health hazard for the school kids.

Nationalised in 2013, the school has around 200 students, said Md Abdul Gafur, an assistant teacher.

Faruqul Islam Ratan, owner of Faruq Bricks, took 10 acres of land on lease from locals for building the kiln.

They have been running the brickfield for the last five years, said Saidul Islam, manager of the kiln.

Over 20 trucks and trolleys carry bricks from the kiln to different areas almost all the year round, he said.

Some school kids said they often cough as they feel suffocated due to smoke and stink coming from the adjoining brickfield.

Deadly accident may occur any time as the brick-laden trucks ply in front of the school frequently, said locals.

They cannot play easily on the school ground due to frequent plying of the brick-laden vehicles, said the students.

Dr Ranjan Kumar Majumder, a retired medicine and heart specialist of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, said the school kids may suffer from different respiratory problems like bronchitis and asthma due to heavy smoke billowing from the brick field.

Abul Kalam, a member of Douhakhola Union Parishad, said the authorities concerned should take action against the brick kiln owner.

As the brick field owner is out of the country, he could not be contacted.

Nur Alam, deputy director of Department of Environment (DoE) in Mymensingh, said the brickfield is being run without obtaining permission from DoE.

They will visit the brick kiln soon to take next course of action, he said.