Bid to build brick kiln on agri land sparks protest
Indigenous people form human chain
Indigenous people under the banner of Adivasi Cluster Unnayon Forum form a human chain at Madhupur Bus Station in Madhupur upazila of Tangail district yesterday demanding steps to prevent setting up of an illegal brick kiln on farmland at Idilpur village in the upazila. Inset, authorities of the brick field under question hang a signboard claiming ownership of the farmland.Photo: STAR
Indigenous people in Madhupur upazila formed a human chain and launched a signature campaign yesterday, demanding removal of an illegal under construction brick kiln from an agricultural land at Idilpur village in the upazila. At the village mostly inhabited by indigenous people, there is a government primary school, a high school, a madrasa, an orphanage, a cultural centre for local indigenous people, a mission of the Church of Bangladesh, two missionary schools, five mosques, three churches, and several national and international aid organisations, local leaders said. The village is also famous for cultivation of different fruits including pineapple and mango. About three months ago, Rezaul Alam Talukder, a businessman from Dhaka, who claimed to have bought 10 acres of vested property through baina sutra (partial payment of the agreed value) at the village and hung a signboard of 'Hena Auto Bricks Limited' there, local sources said. Later, following a petition from local indigenous people, M Bazlul Karim Chowdhury, the then deputy commissioner (DC) in Tangail, ordered Madhupur upazila administration to stop the illegal brick kiln construction bid in the indigenous peoples' village. Accordingly, Khan Nazmus Shoyeb, assistant commissioner (Land) in Madhupur, went to the village recently and directed the company authorities to stop the brick kiln construction work, upazila administration sources said. But ignoring the administrative order, the bricks company, however, continued their activities and constructed an office structure there. Demanding immediate removal of the brick industry from the village to save local environment and biodiversity, the indigenous leaders in Madhupur held a press conference at Tangail Press Club and submitted a memorandum to the prime minister through DC Anisur Rahman Miah in Tangail on Monday. Chairman of Tribal Welfare Association in Madhupur William Dajel, Maria Chiran, former headmistress of Corpus Christy School, Sulekha Mrong, chairman of Achik Michik Society in Madhupur, and Nilip Mrong, executive director of Society for Biodiversity Conservation addressed the conference presided over by Joinshahi Adivasi Unnayan Parishad Chairman Ugene Nokrake. Rezaul Alam Talukder, chairman of Hena Auto Bricks Limited, said, "We have all valid papers in favour of the project. The brick kiln will be an environment friendly one and create employment opportunity for the locals. A group is instigating the indigenous people to stop the project.” On the other hand, Mohammad Habibullah, upazila nirbahi officer of Madhupur, said the brick kiln will not be allowed at Idilpur village as district and upazila administrations, Directorate of Environment and Fire Service and Civil Defence Department did not give any permission for the purpose.
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