Brick kilns eat up farm land in Bogura
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2022
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
Brick kilns eat up farm land in Bogura

Bazaar

Hasibur Rahman Bilu
10 February, 2020, 06:20 pm
Last modified: 10 February, 2020, 06:38 pm

Related News

  • HC summons five DCs for failing to demolish illegal brick kilns
  • Brickmakers eating up a Chattogram crop field
  • Fraudulent syndicate posing as DoE threatens brick kilns, hospitals
  • Demolish illegal brick kilns in Dhaka, adjacent districts in 15 days: HC
  • How dozens of brick kilns fouled up a green paradise

Brick kilns eat up farm land in Bogura

Local people alleged that soil is being extracted now throughout the day and the night for 19 brick kilns in Shahjahanpur

Hasibur Rahman Bilu
10 February, 2020, 06:20 pm
Last modified: 10 February, 2020, 06:38 pm
Illegal extraction of fertile topsoil of agricultural land for making bricks has threatened crop production in different upazilas under Bogura district. This photo was taken from Gabtali upazila of the district. Photo: TBS
Illegal extraction of fertile topsoil of agricultural land for making bricks has threatened crop production in different upazilas under Bogura district. This photo was taken from Gabtali upazila of the district. Photo: TBS

Abdul Mottaleb tried a lot to stop the extraction of topsoil from arable land in his village, but could not do so. The brick kiln owners, who are destroying cultivable land, are very influential. The villagers fear attacks and being framed in false cases by these influential people if they protest against their illegal work. Mottaleb, a resident of Kadamtali village under Gabtali upazila in Bogura, could not conceal his resentment while saying this.

Like Mottaleb, many other villagers in the locality alleged that soil was extracted from cultivable land around many villages in Shahjahanpur upazila to make bricks. For the last several years, brick kiln owners have been taking the topsoil from agricultural land of the villages in different upazilas, including Gabtali, Kahalu, Sherpur and Dhunot, in Bogura. Local people alleged that soil is being extracted now throughout the day and the night for 19 brick kilns in Shahjahanpur, though the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act makes the extraction of top soil for brick kilns illegal.   

The Rajshahi divisional office of the Department of the Environment (DoE) says that most of the extracted topsoil is being used in different brick kilns in the district. Local public representatives admit their failure in stopping this practice. But, they say, they have tried a lot to stop it. 

Mohammad Royet, son of Gabtali's Noshipur Union Parishad Member Ali Mondol, has seen how brick kilns' owners have damaged arable land in many areas by digging up the topsoil there. 

"There will be no cultivable land left after few years if this indiscriminate extraction of soil continues. Before they used to extracted soil only in the daytime, but now they do it at night too," said Royet.

Sohrab Hossain Sannu, chairman of Shahjahanpur Upazila Parishad, said a proposal had been made at the district and upazila level coordination meeting a few months ago to stop soil extraction. The upazila chairmen were asked to do something about it, and they tried. But, they could not put an end to it, said Sannu.

"The Shahjahanpur upazila nirbahi officer carried out a raid with a mobile court and fined several brick kiln owners for soil extraction. But even that could not reduce this illegal practice," he added. 

Apart from use in brick kilns, the topsoil is also used in different development projects. Agriculturists fear that this practice will reduce production of all types of crops. 

Officials of the Soil Resource Development Institute in Bogura said that topsoil contains 13 important substances and minerals including nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and sulphur. Agricultural land is losing these key substances and organic matter because of the extraction of top soil from arable land, they said.

Shah Mohammad Golam Moala, chief scientific officer of the institute, said, "It takes around 100 years to form one inch of fertile top soil. There is evidence that machines were used to extract 10 inches to 10 feet of surface soil in many areas of Bogura. I think suggestions from the Soil Resource Development Institute should be taken into consideration before giving approval to brick kilns."

Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, director of the Department of the Environment (DoE), Rajshahi divisional office, said, "There are allegations of collecting soil from cultivable land. Letters are being sent to different district and upazila administrations to take legal action against such practice. Most of the allegations are against brick kilns."

"There will be 100 percent use of block bricks in all construction projects of the government by 2025. Block bricks will be used in 20 percent of government projects by the next fiscal year," he added.

According to the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act 2019, after getting approval for any brick kiln, the brick kiln owner has to inform the authority where he will collect soil for the kiln. The brick kiln can only go into operation after getting permission from the district administration. 

However, most brick kilns in the northern region do not follow this law. In fact many brick kilns there have not been approved by the district administration. But, the DoE cannot take action against these kiln owners because of a lack of manpower. There are only 13 employees instead of the required 54 in the Rajshahi divisional office of the DoE.

Economy / Top News

Brick kilns / Bogura / arable land

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Patients opting to delay crucial treatment amid rising costs
    Patients opting to delay crucial treatment amid rising costs
  • Bankers unhappy with uniform exchange rate
    Bankers unhappy with uniform exchange rate
  • Photo: PID
    Brand Bangladesh as powerful peace promoting country: PM

MOST VIEWED

  • Representational image. Picture: Collected
    Spice market hot with Eid one-and-a-half months away
  • Photo: Collected
    Rod prices spike again on tariff plan
  • The government needs to continue subsidising both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors to keep inflation under control Photo: Mumit M/TBS
    Commodity rally continues
  • Sonar Bangla kitchen market in Roopnagar residential area. Photo: TBS
    Price hike in kitchen markets continues
  • Photo: TBS
    Even in ‘Gorib er Bazar’, rice the latest casualty of price shock
  • A vendor wearing plastic overalls and surgical mask, waiting at his stall for buyers at Karwan Bazar. The ever-bustling marketplace has very few buyers now as many people have either left the city or are purchasing online to avoid going out. Photo: Mumit M/TBS
    Grocers’ plight as sales on credit increase

Related News

  • HC summons five DCs for failing to demolish illegal brick kilns
  • Brickmakers eating up a Chattogram crop field
  • Fraudulent syndicate posing as DoE threatens brick kilns, hospitals
  • Demolish illegal brick kilns in Dhaka, adjacent districts in 15 days: HC
  • How dozens of brick kilns fouled up a green paradise

Features

Aiman R Khan. Illustration: TBS

Why ‘marry your rapist’ court orders are not always what they seem

1h | Thoughts
Photo: Collected

Top 3 The Ordinary products that give extraordinary results

3h | Mode
Photo: Courtesy

KVN Beauty: Channel your inner Bangalee baddie

3h | Mode
CholPori is planning to roll out their platform in schools so teachers can utilise their tools for the classroom. Photo: Courtesy

CholPori: Where learning is practical, fun and inclusive

2h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Photo: TBS

Tips to help you become a successful lawyer

4h | Videos
People bid adieu to Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury

People bid adieu to Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury

4h | Videos
Photo: TBS

Harassment over 'indecent clothing': Women gather at Narsingdi railway station to protest, show solidarity

4h | Videos
Attorney General's suggestion to reduce case clutter

Attorney General's suggestion to reduce case clutter

17h | Videos

Most Read

1
Bangladesh Bank GM, DGM’s designation changed
Banking

Bangladesh Bank GM, DGM’s designation changed

2
Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards
NBR

Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards

3
Photo: Courtesy
Panorama

Misfit Technologies: A Singaporean startup rooted firmly in Bangladesh

4
British International Investment (BII) CEO Nick O’Donohoe. Illustration: TBS
Economy

BII to invest $450m in Bangladesh in 5 years

5
Representational image. Picture: Pixabay
Economy

Govt raises regulatory duty to discourage imports of 130 products

6
Photo: Collected
Industry

Spanish recycled cotton producer opens new facility in Bangladesh

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab