The High Court on Thursday ordered the closure of all illegal brick kilns across Bangladesh and directed authorities to submit a compliance report by December 14. The bench comprising Justice J.B.M. Hassan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan issued the order following a writ petition.
The court directed all divisional commissioners and the Director General of the Department of Environment to ensure the closure of unlicensed brick kilns and file a comprehensive report with the court within the stipulated timeframe.
Background of the Writ Petition
According to the petitioner's side, a writ petition was filed in 2022 on behalf of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a human rights and environmental organization, seeking closure of all unlicensed brick kilns operating across the country. Following the hearing, the High Court issued a rule on November 13, 2022, directing authorities to halt operations of illegal brick kilns.Subsequently, the court issued further orders on March 4, 2024, November 28, 2024, and February 25, 2025, instructing authorities to complete the process of removing illegal brick kilns and submit reports to the court. However, as the directives were not properly implemented, the court issued the latest order.
Legal Process and Next Steps
To implement the court's directive, divisional commissioners and the Department of Environment will now need to work jointly. They must identify illegal brick kilns, take necessary measures to shut them down, and submit a detailed report to the court by December 14.Environmental law experts say brick kiln emissions have contributed significantly to air pollution, particularly during the winter season. Environmental organizations have welcomed the court's order, noting that closing illegal kilns would improve air quality across the country, including the capital.
The legal process will continue, with the next hearing scheduled after the submission of the compliance report on December 14.
