Anti-Pollution Drives Continues
Dhaka, January 23:
Under the special directives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Department of Environment (DoE) conducted nationwide anti-pollution drives from January 2, 2025, to January 23, 2025. During this period, 204 mobile courts were conducted, resulting in 533 cases and fines totaling BDT 7 Crore 87 Lakh 26 Thousand 700.
Activities of 88 brick kilns were stopped by demolishing their chimneys, while 56 brick kilns were instructed to cease operations. Additionally, raw bricks from 7 kilns were destroyed, and 6 trucks with lead/battery smelting equipment were seized, leading to the closure of 5 factories.
From November 3, 2024, to date, 269 mobile courts were conducted nationwide to curb the production, sale, and distribution of banned polythene. These resulted in fines amounting to BDT 3 crore 8 lakh 55 thousand 400 from 537 establishments, the seizure of approximately 99 thousand 132 kg of banned polythene, and the disconnection and sealing of services in 8 polythene manufacturing factories.
On January 23, 2025, 6 mobile courts were conducted in Pabna, Chuadanga, Narayanganj, Meherpur, and Dhaka against illegal brick kilns. A total of 40 cases led to fines of BDT 1 crore 10 lakh 50 thousand. Eight owners were sentenced to two months in jail, one brick kiln’s kiln was demolished, and strict orders were issued to close 17 brick kilns.
In separate drives against polythene production and distribution, 11 mobile courts were conducted in areas like Sunamganj, Chattogram, Barishal, Mymensingh, and Dhaka. This resulted in 21 cases, fines of BDT 87 thousand 700, and the seizure of 1 thousand 661 kg of banned polythene. Relevant stakeholders in Secretariat and New Market areas were warned.
In Dhaka’s Ramna area, 6 cases were filed for emissions of black smoke, resulting in fines of BDT 12 thousand. Nine drivers were also warned.
In Khilgaon, Shahjahanpur, Gulshan, and Mohammadpur, 6 cases were filed for air pollution caused by construction materials, leading to fines of BDT 47 thousand.
In Pabna, a charcoal factory was fined BDT 1 lakh for air pollution.
In Sherpur, during anti-noise pollution drives, 2 vehicle drivers were fined BDT 3 thousand, and 7 hydraulic horns were seized.
The Department of Environment will continue its regular anti-pollution operations.
