Villagers Bring Out Procession in Manikganj
Brick fields on crop land protested
Locals bring out a procession at Baldhara village in Sinagir upazila under Manikganj district yesterday demanding stopping construction of a new brick kiln (left) that occupies an agricultural land and poses threat to agriculture and environment in the surrounding areas. Photo: STAR
Farmers of Baldhara village in Singair upazila of Manikganj on Sunday staged a demonstration protesting construction of a new brick field at the village. They said Abdul Jalil of Ramkantapur village in Baldhara union owns two brick kilns at their village and is now setting up another kiln on their arable land. The agitating farmers urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to stop setting up of more brick kilns in their union. They said 14 brick field owners have set up 22 brick kilns within two square-kilometers area, polluting environment. Crop production has reduced to one third, fruits-bearing trees are dying while children and elderly people becoming sick in the union due to polluted environment, they alleged. The farmers said they will die to resist the move for setting up of more brick kilns in the area, devouring their arable land. Villager Anwar Hossain said Abdul Jalil is trying to set up another brick kiln at Baldhara village, grabbing cropland. Refuting the allegation, Abdul Jalil said he has set up brick kilns in the area, taking certificates from the Directorate of Environment and the deputy commissioner. He said, “I am shifting brick kiln named SOFUR-1 to SOFUR-3. I am not building more brick kilns.” The farmers have already submitted memorandums to the local administration, deferent ministries and the Directorate of Environment demanding necessary measures to prevent the brick field owners from setting up more brick kilns in the union. When contacted, the deputy director of the nvironment directorate said Jalil was allowed to set up only two brick kilns in the name of SOFUR-1 and SOFUR-2. Munshi Shahabuddin Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Manikganj, told this correspondent that he would will investigate the matter before going for legal action. Farmers of Solondi village under Manikganj Sadar upazila are also protesting the alleged move by brick field owners to set up brick kilns on their crop land.
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