The High Court on Wednesday summoned three divisional commissioners, two deputy commissioners and two upazila nirbahi officers to explain their failure to shut down illegal brickfields in their respective jurisdictions.
The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury ordered the divisional commissioners of Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna along with the deputy commissioners of Lalmonirhat and Kurigram and the upazila nirbahi officers of Savar and Dhamrai to appear in person on February 12 to present their explanations.
According to reports submitted by the divisional commissioners in November 2022, there were 738 illegal brickfields in Rangpur Division, 230 in Chattogram, 134 in Khulna, and 98 in Dhaka.
Despite previous court orders, authorities have failed to take action against them.
The latest directive came in response to an application by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, seeking enforcement of the court鈥檚 earlier rulings.
In a November 13, 2022 verdict, the High Court ordered divisional commissioners to shut down illegal brickfields within seven days.
However, as these remained operational, the court issued another directive on November 28, 2024, instructing compliance within seven days.
Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh lawyer Manzill Murshid informed the court that instead of complying with the order, the divisional commissioners resubmitted their previous reports without taking any enforcement action.
He warned that illegal brick kilns would resume full-scale operations in winter, further damaging the environment and public health unless immediate action was taken.
The court specifically summoned the Lalmonirhat and Kurigram deputy commissioners and Savar and Dhamrai UNOs as these areas have seen rampant illegal brickfield operations in defiance of court orders.
Deputy attorney general Tanim Khan represented the state.
