Jhalokathi, Nov 24 (V7N) – The number of brick kilns in Jhalokathi district is increasing every year without adhering to government regulations, causing rapid environmental degradation in rural areas. Across the district’s four sub-districts, both legal and illegal kilns are spreading, with illegal operations now outnumbering licensed ones.

According to the Department of Environment, there are currently 47 brick kilns in the district, of which 22 are legal (3 of them inactive) and 25 are illegal. With the season underway, kilns are producing and drying raw bricks.

Environmental experts warn that these kilns pose serious threats, including air pollution and loss of agricultural land. Illegal kilns often burn wood without regulation and use fertile land for brick-making, filling it with clay and reducing soil fertility over time. Many kilns are built near roads constructed by LGED, causing road damage due to heavy brick transport. Dust spreads from uncovered trucks, and smoke from burning wood harms both air quality and biodiversity.

The illegal brick kilns include Karim Bricks, NTC Bricks, Star Bricks, Mahadi Bricks, Jhalokathi Bricks (Gazi), Riaz Bricks–1, Riaz Bricks–2, Riaz Bricks–3, MMR–1 Bricks, MM Bricks, Sardar Bricks, Mun Bricks, Three Star Bricks, Tilak Bricks, MBL Bricks, Taha Bricks, JGB Bricks, ASB–1, ASB–2, SC Bricks, SB Bricks, Seven Star Bricks, and Hawladar Real Estate Bricks.

The legal brick kilns include Merry Bricks, Hasib Enterprise Bricks, Five Star Bricks, RRS Bricks, Four Star Bricks, Sardar Enterprise, NTC Bricks, MRB Bricks, Nuruzzaman Bricks, Akon Bricks, Boroiya Bricks, Uttampur Bricks, Zaforabad Bricks (inactive), Shuktara Bricks, Four Star Bricks, Nur Bricks & Company, ARM Bricks–A & B, Auto Bricks (inactive), Three Star Bricks, Hawladar Bricks, and Jamuna Bricks (inactive).

Deputy Director of the Jhalokathi Department of Environment noted that despite repeated raids and destruction of raw bricks, illegal kiln operators reopen their operations. Without accountability from kiln owners and management bodies, the expansion of brick kilns cannot be controlled.

END/AIJ/SMA/