As part of the implementation of the 100-day special action plan of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the ministry has already taken legal action against 458 illegal brick kilns till March 10. Of these, 209 brick kilns have been shut down in the last two months.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury disclosed the information at a meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital on Tuesday (March 12). The minister presided over the meeting which was held to review the implementation progress of the 100-day priority action plan programme of the ministry.
Secretary of the ministry Dr Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Environment) Dr. Fahmida Khanom, Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE) Dr Abdul Hamid and Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury along with senior officials of the ministry and subordinate departments were present at the meeting.
In his speech, Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the campaign against more polluting brick kilns will continue through brick kiln trucks to control air pollution in the capital city. The officials will not have the opportunity to choose brick kilns according to their own choice due to the use of technology, he added. In the meeting, the minister
directed the officials concerned to continue legal measures against those involved in construction pollution, black smoke-emitting transport and factories to control air pollution.
He directed the officials to announce the revised road map for the use of 100 per cent blocks in government construction and take necessary measures, including communicating with the departments concerned, to provide financial incentives to the entrepreneurs of the blocks.
The environment minister wants to know details from the officials concerned about the progress of various initiatives including single-use plastic-free declaration, online ETP monitoring, EPR guidelines and formulation of the National Waste Management Framework in the secretariat mentioned in the programme.
He directed the officials to timely implementation of the priority programs to fulfil the Ministry's commitment to the people.