DHAKA, Jan 6, 2025 (BSS) – As part of a nationwide special campaign against air pollution,  launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, five mobile courts today conducted drives against illegal brick kilns, penalized over TK 1.24 crore and filed 38 cases.

The operations of 11 brick kilns were shut down by demolishing their chimneys, while 15 others were ordered to stop operations, a ministry press release said.

In a separate drive against vehicle emissions, a mobile court cautioned seven drivers for releasing black smoke. Another mobile court targeting noise pollution warned seven drivers and seized three hydraulic horns.

A mobile court penalised three business entities TK 9,000 during an anti-polythene campaign, seizing 29 kg of banned polythene. Additionally, three mobile courts fined six establishments TK 35,000 for storing construction materials in the open space, contributing to air pollution.

Moreover, a charcoal factory in Savar was shut down during this operation.

From January 2 to January 6, 2025, a total of 35 mobile courts conducted drives, filing 97 cases and imposing fines amounting to TK  2.56 crore. The drives also resulted in the demolition of chimneys of 32 brick kilns, the closure of their operations, and   confiscation of 14 hydraulic horns.

Under the initiative of Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with the approval of the Ministry of Public Administration, 11 officials from the Ministry of Environment have been designated as executive magistrates to lead the drives.

The ministry's anti-pollution campaign will continue in full swing.