Traditional brick kilns in Chittagong are posing a serious threat to environment as 80% of them are yet to adopt environment-friendly low-emission technologies.
The Department of Environment (DoE) issued a circular in September 2010 asking brick fields to upgrade their emission system by September 2012. The deadline has been extended until June 30, 2016.
The Brick Making and Kiln Establishment (Control) Act 2013 mandates transformation of traditional kilns into ‘energy efficient and modern’ ones. It suggests converting conventional Fixed Chimney Kilns (FCK) into environment-friendly technologies like Zigzag, Hybrid Hoffman, Vertical Shaft and Tunnel.
Apart from the tunnel method, the other three generate less carbon dioxide, black carbon, and carbon monoxide. FCK is the most popular method in Bangladesh. Zigzag is being widely adopted among the prescribed methods.
DoE’s Chittagong region supervises seven districts – Chittagong, Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Cox’s Bazar and Feni.
According to it, only 72 brick kilns out of 349 in Chittagong have low-emission technologies. Around 60% registered brick kilns in Brahmanbaria, 96% in Comilla, 69% in Chandpur, 83% in Noakhali, 67% in Cox’s Bazar and 84% in Feni have adopted modern technology.
DoE Director Md Mokbul Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that brick kiln owners in Chittagong were reluctant to adopt modern technology. “We’re encouraging them to adopt the environment-friendly technologies and I hope they will meet the deadline,” he said.
DoE’s Chittagong unit Deputy Director Sheikh Saleh Ahmmed said: “We’re taking tough measures against errant brick kiln owners. Anyone running an illegal brick kiln will face a maximum one-year jail term or a Tk1 lakh fine or both, and all equipment will be confiscated.”
He said the owners should remember that using modern technologies was cost effective and it would minimise the production cost and maximise profit. “Brick kilns using outdated technology are a major source of air pollution. Toxic emissions from conventional brick kilns interrupt photosynthesis, and cause respiratory diseases,” he added.
Md Sahabudin, president of Chittagong Lohagara Brick Kiln Owners’ Association, said installing a FCK cost them Tk25 lakh but upgrading it to Zigzag cost between Tk70 lakh and Tk80 lakh. “We are annoyed with the chopping and changing,” he said.
“The law prohibits installation of a brick kiln within 1km of a residential neighbourhood, school, arable land, forest, marshland, city corporation, municipality, and upazila headquarters. Now it seems there is no place to set up a brick kiln in the country,” he said.
Researcher Salma Sultana, who teaches chemistry at Chittagong BAF Shaheen College, argued that the traditional brick kilns should adopt modern technology without delay, claiming that conventional brick kilns were responsible for 30% air pollution in Bangladesh.
“They emit more smoke than any other factory as the burning process is lengthy. They are also responsible for emitting harmful gases like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other matters that cause serious respiratory diseases like bronchitis and asthma. Besides, the pollution also weakens the human body’s immune system.”