The High Court today (November 7, 2022) directed the government to stop operations of all illegal brick kilns in four districts -- Bogura, Tangail, Lalmonirhat, and Thakurgaon -- immediately in a bid to curb environment pollution and also asked them to submit compliance reports before it within two weeks.

Deputy commissioners of four districts have been asked to comply with the directives.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain in four weeks why their inaction to shut down the illegal brick kilns in four districts under the Brick Kilns Control Act, 2013 should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Md Shohrowardi came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) on November 6 seeking necessary directives on this issue.

During the hearing of the petition, HRPB's counsel Manzill Murshid told the HC that hundreds of illegal brick kilns have reportedly been operating in the four respective districts, causing damage to the environment, farmlands, and forests.

But the officials concerned of the government are not taking necessary action against such illegal activities, he argued.

Senior lawyer Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that the maximum punishment for operating illegal brick kilns is two years' imprisonment under the Brick Kilns Control Act, 2013.

Deputy Attorney General Kazi Mynul Hassan represented the state during the hearing of the petition.