206 Cases, Tk4.53 Cr Fines, 65 Brick Kilns Shut in One Week

Court decision

Dhaka, 9 January: Under the special directives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Department of Environment (DoE) conducted 74 mobile court operations across the country from January 2 to January 9, 2025. During these operations, 206 cases were filed, fines amounting to BDT 4.53 crore were collected, and 65 brick kiln chimneys were demolished, leading to the closure of operations. Additionally, strict orders were issued to shut down 25 brick kilns, and 17 hydraulic horns were seized. 

Today mobile court operations were conducted in Bogura, Gazipur, Jashore, Cumilla, Magura, Faridpur, and Tangail districts. As a result, 23 illegal brick kilns were fined BDT 25.7 lakh, 18 brick kilns were shut down, and one brick kiln owner in Gazipur was sentenced to six months of imprisonment. 

In Shahbagh, Dhaka, mobile courts fined five vehicle drivers BDT 10 thousand for emitting excessive black smoke, while four unfit vehicles were impounded by BRTA. 

In Chuadanga, actions against noise pollution resulted in the seizure of three hydraulic horns, and three drivers were fined Taka One thousand and five hundred. In Narayanganj, three polluting steel mills were fined a total of BDT 3.3 lakh. 

To curb polythene production and use, mobile courts in Cumilla, Pirojpur, Habiganj, and Mohammadpur, Dhaka, imposed fines of BDT 38 thousand and seized 211.5 kg of polythene, along with 65 sacks of raw material for polythene production. One factory was sealed off. 

In Basila and Aftab Nagar areas of Dhaka, mobile courts fined eight establishments BDT 34 thousand 500 for keeping construction materials in open spaces, and several owners were warned.

The Department of Environment will continue such special campaigns against pollution. – PID Handout