DoE conducts drive against air, noise, environmental pollution in Khulna. Photo: BSS

KHULNA, May 10, 2025 (BSS) – Department of Environment (DoE) in Khulna has conducted 182 mobile court operations across 10 districts in the division from January 1 to April 30, 2025 aimed at combating air and environmental pollution.

The DAE Khulna division conducted the four-month long drive following directives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

During the drive carried out from January to April this year, the mobile courts filed 417 cases and collected Taka over 3.10 crore as fines, according to DoE officials of Khulna division.

Besides, a total of 39 illegal brick kilns and 45 coal-burning stoves were destroyed while 227 were ordered to seize during the drives.

The officials said that the drives would continue until bringing down the air and environmental pollution in the region to a tolerable level.

In addition, six truckloads of battery recycling equipment were seized from one factory when a case was filed against it in charge of polluting air, the officials added.

During the period, a total of 39 mobile court operations have been carried out to curb the production and sale of banned polythene.

The courts also filed 61 cases and seized 7,452.9 KGs of polythene across the division, according to DoE. The efforts led to actions against 39 establishments when Taka over 69.67 lakh was collected as fines.

Authorities seized 296 hydraulic horns in 48 drives and filed 164 cases and fined Taka over 1.84 lakhs from vehicles in the division, according to DoE.

Talking to BSS, Md Sadiqul Islam, Director (Current Charge) of DoE in Khulna Division said the Department of Environment has reaffirmed that its anti-pollution operations will continue to protect environment, health and people's well-being.

He, however, said that business owners were warned to comply with environmental regulations for the sake of ensuring a healthy environment.

Talking to BSS, Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul, Khulna coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association (BELA) said as per the order by the High Court, all illegal environments polluting brick kilns must be destroyed by 2025.

The present government is not giving new permission to set up new brick kilns, he said adding some brick kilns owners have established brick kilns in agricultural lands, and adjacent to the Sundarbans and are making raw bricks through topsoil from other soil in agricultural lands in different districts.

In this connection, he said the DoE should conduct operations against those brick kilns.

Mentioning that most of the industrial buildings were constructed without maintaining environmental rules, he said unregulated industrial activities, burning of fossil fuels and a growing number of motor vehicles without proper emission controls further aggravate the air quality.

He said joint drives by the DoE, BRTA and other concerned government Departments' can reduce carbon emissions and air pollution.
 
Advocate Babul Hawladar, Member Secretary of Khulna Nagorik Samaj said, "To combat air pollution and the environment crisis, coordinated efforts are needed, including stricter enforcement of environmental laws, cleaner technologies promotion, public transportation enhancement, and community awareness campaigns.''

Mentioning that around 60 percent brick kilns are operating illegally, he said social campaigns are crucial to create awareness about air, noise and environmental pollution.

Contacted, Prof. Dr Md Mujibur Rahman, head of Environment and Science Discipline of Khulna University said that the non-environment-friendly industry, carbon growing brick kilns, environmental hazards of polythene, which is harmful for soil, creating trouble for the drainage system, water flow must stop its use and production.

He said lack of green spaces and the dumping of construction materials on roads exacerbate the already dire situation, leaving residents to contend with persistent dust pollution.