The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, along with the Department of Environment (DoE), conducted 739 mobile court operations across the country from January 2 to March 23, 2025, to combat environmental pollution.
As part of this special initiative, these operations resulted in 1,591 cases, leading to the collection of Tk23.12 crore in fines, as per the Environment Ministry.
During the operations, 424 illegal brick kilns were shut down, 204 were ordered to cease operations, and raw bricks from 118 kilns were destroyed, it said.
Additionally, six truckloads of battery recycling equipment were seized from five factories, which were subsequently closed, the ministry added.
Since November 3, 2024, a total of 362 mobile court operations have been carried out to curb the production and sale of banned polythene across Bangladesh, reported the Environment Ministry
These efforts led to actions against 679 establishments, resulting in Tk54.9 lakh in fines.
Authorities seized approximately 164,086kg of banned polythene, and 12 polythene-producing factories had their utility connections severed and sealed off, said the ministry.
Furthermore, eight mobile court operations were conducted in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Barguna, Meherpur, Narayanganj, and Chittagong, resulting in 23 cases, fines amounting to Tk8.5 crore, and nine brick kilns being completely shut down, it added.
On Tuesday, three mobile court operations were carried out in Lalbagh, Patuakhali, and Sunamganj against illegal polythene production and sales, as per the Environment Ministry.
These led to 10 cases, Tk22,000 in fines, and the seizure of 32kg of banned polythene.
Additionally, two mobile court operations in Dhaka imposed Tk35,000 in fines for air pollution violations, as per the ministry.
In Jessore, four vehicles were penalized for noise pollution, resulting in Tk7,000 in fines and the confiscation of two hydraulic horns, the ministry said.
In Sunamganj, an operation against unauthorized stone crushing led to the seizure of four excavators and 20 shallow machines, it added.
The Department of Environment has affirmed that its anti-pollution operations will continue.
