Faruk Magura Correspondent: The Magura District Administration issued a memorandum on 6 October 2025 (Memo No: 05.44.5500.009.09.047.25-636) clearly stating that no unlicensed brick kiln would be allowed to operate in the upcoming season. According to the Brick Manufacturing and Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, 2013, and its 2019 amendment, a license is mandatory to operate a brick kiln. However, the ground reality is entirely different.

Currently, Magura has only 3 licensed brick kilns, while 99 kilns operate illegally. According to the latest data from the district administration, the district has a total of 102 brick kilns. Among the three legally compliant kilns, Shahid Bricks in Shalikha Upazila, M/s Pial’s Bricks in Deyadanga, Satkhali, and Auto Bricks in Krishnapur/Kachundi, Magura Sadar are licensed. The remaining 99 kilns have been operating for years without any license, most of them with misaligned chimneys, no environmental clearance, no fitness certification, and failing to meet the 10/5/3 standard measurements. Some kilns have even been established on agricultural land.

These illegal kilns are the primary cause of environmental pollution, reduced agricultural production, river siltation, and the destruction of rural roads in the district. The unlicensed brick kilns have severely impacted Magura’s environment. Air pollution has increased, causing respiratory problems among the population, with smoke spreading at lower levels due to non-standard chimneys. Children and the elderly in rural areas are particularly affected. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) levels are far above safe limits.

Throughout Magura, roads are being destroyed by overloaded trucks carrying excess soil and bricks from the kilns. Union roads, rural bridges, and culverts in Sadar–Mohammadpur–Shalikha–Shripur Upazilas are regularly damaged.

Local residents allege that trucks and trolleys from the kilns carry three to four times the permitted weight. Soil removal from fertile land has reduced agricultural productivity. Illegal kiln owners cut soil from farmland, break pond banks, and extract raw materials from riverbanks, reducing land with three crops to just one. Alongside river and canal siltation and climate damage, ash from kilns is encroaching on rivers like the Magra, Nabaganga, and Chitra. Open coal burning is also increasing the risk of microclimate changes in the district.

The district administration’s memorandum orders that “no unlicensed brick kiln should be allowed to operate, and necessary action must be taken.” Instructions have been given to Upazila Nirbahi Officers, Assistant Commissioners (Land), and Union Land Officers. Particularly at the union level, any attempt to establish a kiln without a license or chimney must be immediately reported to the UNO and district administration. This clearly signals that the administration will no longer show leniency toward illegal kilns.

Owners of Top Ten Bricks and Gorai illegal kilns in Raynagar, Nakol Union, Shreepur Upazila, claim they have been running kilns for years and obtaining a license has become difficult. They say applications have been submitted, but approvals are slow. The owner of Bashundhara Bricks, Sachani Rautra, Mahbub Alam, said chimney construction costs are high, but they are trying to comply gradually. Shiblu, owner of Sindhain Mohammadpur Mir Bricks, added that with influence, many can operate illegal kilns.

However, legal experts emphasize that illegal kiln operations cannot be legitimized under the pretext of economic benefits.

Owners of the three legal kilns stated that they operate their kilns following all rules—licenses, environmental clearance, taxes, etc.—but the 99 illegal kilns sell bricks at lower prices, destabilizing the market and harming legal operators. They urge the district administration to take immediate action.

Shoaib Mohammad Shoaib, Assistant Director of Magura Department of Environment, said the number of illegal kilns in Magura is extremely high and is causing environmental destruction in air, soil, and water. The department is cooperating with the administration.

Magura Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Md. Hasibul Hasan, said raids are ongoing to close unlicensed kilns, but many owners continue operations at night. “We are ready to take strict action,” he added.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Asma Akter stated that illegal kiln owners have already been notified by the district administration to shut down operations. If they fail to comply, the Department of Environment and other authorities will take legal action. To operate legally, kilns must follow government criteria and obtain official approvals. There is no alternative.

So why do illegal kilns continue despite the devastation? Factors include the profitability of the business, willingness of owners to take risks, inadequate local monitoring, limited manpower of the Department of Environment, and delayed legal action even when cases are filed. Non-compliance with technological and measurement standards (10/5/3) also raises questions about brick quality.

Residents of Magura demand urgent action: verify licenses for all kilns, shut down the 99 illegal kilns, monitor unauthorized soil extraction and transport, protect rural roads with mobile courts, and enforce strict environmental laws.

With only three out of 102 kilns licensed, Magura’s environment, public health, and agriculture are in serious jeopardy. The recent district administration directive to close illegal kilns and enforce the rule of law has become a critical necessity. The illegal practices of kiln owners and violations of license and environmental regulations must no longer be tolerated. Strong administrative action is now the only way to protect Magura’s future.

Imtiaz Hossain, Deputy Director (Upasuchib), Local Government, said that instructions have already been given to close illegal kilns and operate only licensed ones. He hopes the owners will respect the law.