With the start of brick making season, dozens of illegal brick kilns have started operation inside the forests and woodlands in the district, despite a statutory restriction from the authorities concerned.

These kilns use firewood collected from the forests, including those declared 'reserved' by the government, to burn bricks, posing serious threat to human health and natural environment but the local administration is yet to take any noticeable action to check the menace.

Defying environmental law, about 50 kilns have recently started operation in Lama, Alikadom, Thanchi, Naikkongchhari and Sadar upazilas of the district, local sources said.

Mohammad Islam, a local BNP leader, Lakshmi Pada Das, a local Awami League (AL) leader and member of Bandarban Hill District Council and Md Jasim Uddin, another AL man, admitted brick manufacturing by using firewood in dense forest areas.

They claimed to have licenses for the business, but failed to show any documents to support it.

On an average, around 200 maunds of wood are daily used in each of these brick kilns, built mostly near primary schools, agricultural lands and forests.

Thus the 50 illegal brick kilns burn around 10,000 maunds of wood daily.

It has been alleged that brick manufactures often collect wood with the connivance of a section of unscrupulous forest officials.

Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, divisional forest officer of Lama Forest Division, said a few officials of his department might have link with the illegal brick kiln owners.

Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Mizanul Haque Chowdhury admitted that most of the brick kilns in the district are operating illegally.

"We have instructed officials to see that no one can collect or burn wood to operate brick kilns."