No more burnt bricks in government construction

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the use of burnt bricks will be stopped in all government constructions by 2025.

“Letter has been sent to the government offices informing them to stop using burnt bricks in any construction works as the government is the biggest consumer of bricks for various construction works like roads and buildings and bricks are used in large constructions,” she told BSS.

Rizwana said the government should adopt an alternative to burnt bricks and it can be resolved if the government issues a demand letter.

Noting that brick kilns are one of the major causes of environmental pollution, she said the government is taking a strict stance to stop it.

New brick kilns in the country will not be given clearance as operations of 3,491 brick kilns have been shut due to a lack of environmental clearance, she said.

About environmental pollution caused by the use of polythene, she said the action against banned polythene or polypropylene shopping bags has been started since November 3. Various activities have also been taken to stop the use of polythene in various shopping malls in the capital, she said.

The adviser said in January 2025, 10 roads of the capital Dhaka will be declared horn-free. Horn-free silent zones will be announced in phases across the country.

From December to January, the government will launch a campaign with the participation of school and college students to stop honking, she said.

About the country’s only coral island, St Martin’s, the adviser said, the government has taken various initiatives and plans to protect St Martin’s Island and the tourism industry.

She said no one can build a military base on that soft land. Now those who are waging movement over St Martin’s Island are ship and hotel owners. They are inciting the locals there, she said.

“There’s no confusion over St Martin’s. These confusions are political and ill-motivated,” she said.

About river pollution, the adviser said the DCs had been asked to free at least one river from pollution in 64 districts of the country within two months.