At least 129 brickfields are functioning on croplands and in residential areas in Jhenaidah district, posing a threat to the environment, agriculture and public health.
Of these brickfields, only seven are authorized, while the rest have been operating illegally without any authorization.
The brickfields are emitting smoke, ashes and heat waves that adversely affect crop and fruit production.
Besides, the ashes gather on the surface of croplands, affecting soil fertility, according to local people.
Moreover, the brickfield traders are digging up the surface soil of croplands and using it to produce bricks. That is why the area given over to croplands is shrinking, they have alleged.
Thick black smoke from chimneys of brick kilns adversely affects the air and environment that causes health hazards to people residing near the brickfields. People are suffering from respiratory problems, bronchitis, cough and chest diseases.
Children are the worst affected due to the situation, said local physician Abdus Sattar.
Locals said the brick field owners used various means to procure land to set up brickfields, which were mostly illegal.
"Setting up brickfields on cultivable land is a punishable crime. They are grabbing our land," said Afzal Hossain, a farmer of Borolia village in Shailkupa upazila.
On the other hand, the owners are breaking the law by violating the environmental laws relating to the setting up of brick kilns, he added.
At least 22 brick kilns had been set up near farmlands and human habitation in the upazila, threatening the environment, the farmer added.
When contacted, owners of at least two brickfields said that they had applied to the authorities concerned for licenses and permission for running brick kilns and the matter remained pending.
Shailkupa Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kaniz Fatema Liza said the authorities would soon launch mobile court drives against illegal brickfields if they got complaints.
When contacted, Sayeed Anwar, Deputy Director of Department of Environment, Jessore, said the government had clear guidelines about the setting up of brick kilns, and notified all brick field owners they must have certificates from the authorities prior to opening a brick kiln.
Most of the kilns in the area do not have chimneys mandatory to control smoke emission.
Brick kiln owners tend to care little about the harm being done to the environment, people's health and livelihood.
Aside from playing havoc with the environment and speeding up deforestation, these illegal brick kilns are also exposing people living in those areas to serious health hazards, as burning of firewood is turning the air increasingly polluted.
The people of the district have called for intervention by the authorities in the matter to protect them and the environment from such dangers.
