X Ceramics' rejoinder and our reply

X Ceramics Limited has issued a rejoinder to the report published by The Business Standard on 9 July 2025, titled "Factory accused of polluting, grabbing river receives green award", calling the story "entirely fabricated, baseless, and misleading".

The rejoinder, signed by Wahed Azizur Rahman, chief operating officer of X Index Companies – the parent company of X Ceramics – further states that the report "does not reflect the actual production process of the factory".

Our response

In the rejoinder, X Ceramics claims that "the report falsely accuses the company of encroaching on and polluting the LabolongKhal". Throughout the statement, the company refers to the Labolong as a khal (canal).

This characterisation is misleading. The Labolong, also called the Labandaha, is officially recognised as a river – not a canal. If treated as a river, the company would be liable not only for encroachment on the waterbody itself but also for illegal occupation of its foreshore.

This legal implication is likely why the company insists on calling it a canal, despite offering no documentary evidence beyond verbal claims. In reality, the Labolong has deteriorated into a canal-like condition precisely because of sustained encroachment.

Also, the National River Conservation Commission's official list, still available on its website, identifies the Labolong/Labandaha River at entry 1196. It flows through Sreepur, Gazipur, and passes through X Ceramics' premises.

According to the Bangladesh Water Act 2013, as the Labolong is classified as a river, no permanent structure may be constructed within 10 metres – or roughly 33 feet – on either side of its foreshore. Violating this is a punishable offence.

The company further claims: "Since 2009, X Ceramics Ltd has been operating its factory with proper approvals from all relevant government authorities."

This is not accurate. The most recent environmental clearance issued by the Department of Environment expired on 18 December 2024. The renewal application is currently on hold at the department's Gazipur office – a fact clearly stated in our report.

In the rejoinder, X Ceramics also claims it "voluntarily undertakes regular cleaning efforts to remove waste and ensure that the Khal remains environmentally sustainable and free-flowing".

However, this is directly contradicted by an official inspection report from the Department of Environment dated 26 June 2025.

The rejoinder further states that "X Ceramics Ltd, on its own initiative, applied to the Land Office on 12 December 2024 with the necessary documents for demarcation of land and Khal boundaries".

In fact, this application was resolved long ago. On 24 October 2024, a special taskforce of 10 members – including officials from the district administration, Department of Environment, Department of Agricultural Extension, Water Development Board, and representatives from environmental organisations – conducted a field inspection of the Labolong.

The taskforce confirmed encroachment by X Ceramics on the river and estimated that removing the illegal structures would cost around Tk30 lakh. This report has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment.

Separately, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Sreepur, Gazipur, has filed an eviction case (No 44/2024) against X Ceramics for illegally occupying the river. The case cites reports from both the River Conservation Commission and the Department of Environment and refers to directives issued by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court regarding the protection of rivers, canals, and foreshore land.

In line with these directives, on 25 April 2024, the assistant land officer of Sreepur Municipal Land Office submitted a formal report recommending the eviction of X Ceramics. It states the company has illegally occupied 35 decimals of the riverbank and urges the initiation of removal procedures.

The company was given an opportunity to submit supporting documents for its claim over the land but failed to produce any.

Following this, government surveyors prepared a sketch map identifying the encroached area, which was submitted to the assistant commissioner (land). Based on this evidence, the eviction case was filed and forwarded to the additional deputy commissioner (revenue) for execution.

In addition, on 26 June 2025, three officials from the Gazipur District Office of the Department of Environment conducted another on-site inspection. Their report again confirmed evidence of both encroachment on and pollution of the Labolong River by X Ceramics.

The rejoinder said the factory "uses its own Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and recycles waste materials. Moreover, the ceramic industry does not use any chemicals that are harmful to the environment."

However, the Department of Environment's ETP review said the factory's Both inlet and outlet flow meters are installed, but the outlet meter was found to be non-functional. Flow meter readings were not properly recorded in the register book.

Moreover, our report is backed by statements from environmental groups and relevant government authorities, including the Department of Environment and the District Administration.

We stand by our report.