Under the special initiative of the environment, forest and climate change ministry 3,797 cases were filed and Tk26,382,690 was realised as fine in drives against air, noise and polythene pollution this year across the country.
The Department of Environment conducted 1,540 mobile court drives between January 2 and September 11 this year, said a press release issued by the ministry on Friday.
During this period, 489 brick kilns were completely shut down with chimneys demolished, directives were issued to close 216 kilns, and raw bricks from 133 kilns were destroyed.
A total of 25 polythene factories were sealed off with utility connections cut, while 132 other establishments had their electricity or service connections disconnected.
Four individuals received varying terms of imprisonment without parole, and from 13 institutions, nine truckloads of lead/battery melting equipment were seized and operations were closed.
On Friday, three mobile courts in Feni, Chattogram, and Narayanganj penalised the illegal production and marketing of banned polythene under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act.
Nine cases were filed, resulting in Tk65,000 in fines and the seizure of 319 kg of polythene.
Awareness leaflets were also distributed at markets and super shops.
The same day, two mobile courts were conducted in Manikganj and Dhaka鈥檚 Motijheel-Gulistan road area against excessive black smoke emissions from vehicles, filing seven cases and collecting Tk15,000 in fines while issuing warnings to several drivers.
Furthermore, five mobile courts were conducted in Narail, Bandarban, Shariatpur, Manikganj, and Chattogram to control noise pollution under the Noise Pollution Control Rules 2006.
These drives resulted in 19 cases, fines of Tk40,000, and seizure of 34 hydraulic horns, the press release added.