State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam on Monday said the country has around 8,000 brick kilns in operation, with nearly 5,000 of them running illegally.
Speaking to reporters after the closing ceremony of an environmental debate festival organized by the Sadar Upazila Administration at Narayanganj Shilpakala Academy, he said the government is actively working to address the issue.
“Approximately 5,000 brick kilns are operating illegally, while only about 2,900 to 3,000 have legal authorization. We are engaging with stakeholders to find a practical solution to this problem, as brick kilns remain one of the leading sources of environmental pollution,” he said.
The state minister noted that Bangladesh has yet to develop a complete alternative to conventional bricks despite previous policy efforts. “Although targets were set under the previous administration to reduce reliance on traditional bricks, those goals were not fully achieved. However, finding alternatives is essential because brick kilns are a major contributor to air pollution,” he said.
He also identified the non-use of effluent treatment plants (ETPs) in industrial facilities and emissions from motor vehicles as significant sources of environmental degradation. The government, he said, will take phased action after identifying major pollution sources across the country.
“We are working to pinpoint the key drivers of pollution and will implement measures step by step. We hope that by next year, environmental conditions will improve to a more manageable and comfortable level,” he added.
