Environment minister urges cleaner brick kilns instead of immediate shutdown

Abdul Awal Mintoo bans use of wood as kiln fuel and calls for cleaner technology

Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has said Bangladesh should focus on reducing pollution from brick kilns rather than shutting them down immediately, as viable alternatives to bricks are not yet fully available.

Speaking at a meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the minister said cleaner technology should be introduced to reduce emissions from brick kilns.

He also instructed that wood must not be used as fuel in brick kilns under any circumstances, according to a ministry statement.

Mintoo warned that using topsoil from agricultural land to produce bricks was damaging soil fertility and reducing the amount of cultivable land across the country.

"If the top layer of soil is used for brick production, land fertility is destroyed. As a result, the amount of cultivable land is gradually decreasing. We have to think about alternative solutions," he said.

State Minister for Environment Shaikh Faridul Islam also addressed the meeting, saying there would be no leniency towards illegal brick kilns.

He also highlighted concerns over the environmental impact of using coal with high sulphur content in brick kilns.

According to the state minister, the use of such coal contributes significantly to environmental pollution.

He said it was therefore essential to introduce quality standards governing the coal used by brick kilns.