Around a dozen brick kilns in Hakaluki Haor area of Moulvibazar and Sylhet have continued operation with burning wood, polluting environment in the 'Ecologically Critical Area' (ECA).

The government in 1999 declared Hakaluki Haor an ECA, covering 40 thousand hectares of land in 11 unions of five upazilas under Moulvibazar and Sylhet, to save it from harmful activities.

In a recent investigation this correspondent found one brick kiln in Kulaura upazila, three brick kilns in Juri, four in Barlekha under Moulvibazar, and two brick kilns each in Fenchuganj and Golapganj upazilas of Sylhet in Hakaluki Haor area.

Wood is being burnt in violation of forest and environmental laws in different illegal brick kilns in Hakaluki Haor area, said Tofazzal Sohel, central committee member of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa).

Although the government made laws and guidelines to convert the traditional brick kilns into zigzag ones about five years ago, most of the brickfield owners are yet to do it, he added.

Visiting the Kulaura-Juri-Barlekha road in Hakaluki Haor area a few days ago, this correspondent saw huge quantities of wood piled up on the brick field premises.

Md Nurul Mohaimin Milton, general secretary of environmental journalists' forum, said massive use of wood for making bricks poses threat to the environment in the area.

“Smoke from burning wood round the clock here badly affects us,” said Shebul Mia, a resident of Begbanpur area in Kulaura.

Md Mustafizur Rahman, owner of M/S Shapla Brick Kilns in Kulaura, refuted the allegation of burning wood for brick manufacturing.

“Some wood are kept for cooking for workers. The brick kiln will be converted into a zigzag one soon,” he said.

Abdul Mannan, range officer of Forest Department in Juri upazila, said he visited the brick kilns and warned the owners not to burn wood for brick making.

“Brick Manufacturing and Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, 2013, prohibits the use of trees in the brick field as it pollutes air and causes harm to the forest. We strongly urge stopping the practice and shift the brick kilns from the Ecologically Critical Area,” said Abdul Hye Al-Hadi, chief executive, Save the Heritage and Environment.

RSM Monirul Islam, divisional forest officer of Sylhet Forest Division, said, “I did not know about the burning of wood at the brick kilns in Hakaluki Haor area. I will take action against it soon.”