Surge in illegal brick kilns causes environmental crisis 

At least 41 brick kilns in Lama Upazila of Bandarban have commenced their brick-making activities without obtaining any necessary permissions, approvals, or clearances.

The kiln owners have already cut mountains, collected soil, and stockpiled forest wood as fuel for their operations, further damaging the hills. Despite the nominal oversight by the Directorate of Administration and Environment in Bandarban, these kilns have initiated operations in violation of the Brick Making and Kiln Installation (Regulation) Act-2013.

Under the said act, it is explicitly prohibited to establish or operate any brick kiln without a license, engage in illegal brick-making practices, and use wood as fuel.

Various locations in Lama Upazila, including Phaitong Union, Fansiakhali Union, Ghazalia Union, Sarai Union, and Lama Municipality, are witnessing the adverse effects of this unregulated brick-making spree. Green hills and crop lands are being plowed for soil, raising concerns among environmentalists about irreversible damage to the natural landscape.

While some argue that brick kilns are essential for development, environmentalists highlight the detrimental impact on mountainous terrains. The ongoing illegal construction of floodplains akin to frog umbrellas has resulted in the irreversible alteration of the hills' nature.

In Phaitong Union alone, 30 brick kilns have been erected within a 5 km radius from Paglirchhara to Shibatali. This year, two additional brick kilns have been established in Paglirchhara and Fadurchhara areas. The situation is particularly dire in Fadurchhara village, where excavators are cutting hills on three sides of Five BM Bricks, covering two large hills and storing forest wood as fuel.

Giyas Uddin, the owner of this particular brick kiln, admitted to operating without permission, claiming that no authorization is now required for kilning. The 30 brick kilns in three wards of Phaitong Union have encroached upon schools, populated villages, green forest areas, canals, and roadsides, causing further environmental degradation.

Despite Union Parishad Chairman Omar Farooq confirming the existence of 30 illegal brick kilns, the mountain cutting continues, accompanied by machinery noise and dust, leading to concerns among locals about the loss of greenery in the Phaitong area.

A second brick kiln zone has emerged in Yangcha Kanthalchhara area of Phansiakhali Union in Lama Upazila. A new kiln named BNB has been established without proper documentation, adding to the total of 7 brick kilns in the union. Residents express distress over the continuous destruction of hills and fear the loss of the protective barrier against monsoons and cyclones.

Lama Divisional Forest Officer Md. Ariful Haque Belal issued notices to all brickfields in the upazila, emphasizing compliance with the Brick Making and Kiln Installation (Control) Act-2013, prohibiting the use of wood as fuel. Legal actions will be taken against non-compliance. Assistant Conservator of Forest Saiful Islam led an operation resulting in the seizure of 4,200 cubic feet of illegal wood.

Bandarban Environment Department Assistant Director Md. Fakhar Uddin Chowdhury asserted that there is no government-approved brick kiln in Lama and promised larger operations against illegal kilns. Lama Upazila Executive Officer Shantanu Kumar Dash, in collaboration with the district administration, Department of Environment Bandarban, Lama Police Station, and Lama Fire Service, initiated an operation against unauthorized brick kilns, vowing to continue the campaign in the future.