Khulna DC summoned for not evicting illegal brick kilns
08 December 2022
Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Wednesday summoned the Deputy Commissioner of Khulna district and Dumuria upazila UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) for not complying with its earlier order to evict illegal brick kilns.
The two government officials have been asked to appear before the HC on January 10 in 2023 for explaining their position over the issue.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order after hearing a contempt of court petition filed by a rights organization, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
Following a writ petition filed by the HRPB, the High Court bench on February 25 ordered the authorities to maintain status quo on land grabbing, earth filling, and operating brick kilns on the land of the Bhadra and Hori rivers and also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why their inaction to stop such activities should not be declared illegal.
The authorities concerned later submitted a compliance report in the court in which it mentioned a list of 14 illegal brick kilns established in the river's land.
The High Court on December 14 in 2021 directed the government to demolish and evict 14 illegal brick kilns constructed within the boundaries of Bhadra and Hori Rivers in Khulna and submit a compliance report in 60 days.
The HC passed the order after going through the list of names of the brick kilns and their owners submitted by the Deputy Commissioner's office of the district.
However, the respondents didn't comply with the HC order. In this circumstance, the HRPB filed a petition with the HC to summon the DC and the UNO.
