Protesters demand end to DoE drives that began after Savar was declared as ‘degraded airshed’
Photo: Palash Khan
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Photo: Palash Khan
Owners and workers of several brick kilns shut down in government raids blocked the Dhaka–Aricha highway in Boliarpur Bhanga Bridge area for two hours today, demanding permission to reopen the kilns.
The blockade, which began around 10:00am, caused long traffic tailbacks on both sides of the road before police intervened and dispersed the protesters around noon.
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Photo: Akash Mahammud
Protesters said the Department of Environment (DoE) recently carried out raids in Savar, fining kilns, demolishing chimneys and shutting down operations. They occupied and blocked the highway to press for an end to the drives and permission to resume brick production.
Photo: Palash Khan
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Photo: Palash Khan
Around 11:00am, passengers were seen leaving buses and walking to their destinations, causing a two-kilometre traffic jam. Army and police personnel tried to negotiate with the demonstrators, who chanted slogans demanding the kilns be reopened.
Photo: Palash Khan
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Photo: Palash Khan
“We only work at the brick kiln for six months. What is the point if it is closed?” worker Shafiullah told The Daily Star. “We will not leave unless permission is given to start the brick kiln.”
Md Jahangir, owner of ABM Bricks, said, “The DoE is shutting down kilns on a large scale. Give us at least six months. Otherwise, thousands of workers will starve.”
Photo: Palash Khan
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Photo: Palash Khan
Savar Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saleh Ahmed said police requested the protesters to clear the highway and dispersed them when they refused. “They blocked the road from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Traffic is now returning to normal,” he added.
The drives follow the DoE’s declaration of Savar upazila as a “degraded airshed” in August, after round-the-clock monitoring showed annual air quality levels nearly three times above the national standard. Under the declaration, brick-making — except in tunnel and hybrid Hoffman kilns — and certain other pollution-causing activities are prohibited until further notice.
Photo: Palash Khan
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Photo: Palash Khan