At an unlicensed works in Panchgargaria village of Kamalerpara union in Saghata upazila, Gaibandha, 14 clay kilns are burning wood to make charcoal. Residents say the kilns stand in the middle of the village's crop fields and their smoke hangs over the area day and night.
Villagers accuse local men Shahin Mia, Meherul Islam and Felu Mia, among others, of openly burning trees for charcoal. People nearby suffer breathing problems and other health risks, and crops and trees are being damaged, they say. Those who complain about the thick black smoke are allegedly threatened.
"The smoke from these charcoal works has made it hard even to move around the village," said Momin Mia, a resident of Gargaria.
Kamalerpara union parishad chairman Shahinur Islam said he had heard about the illegal works and would inform the administration once he had the details.
Saghata's assistant commissioner (land), Ratan Kumar Dutta, said the administration had demolished all the kilns in several drives and would act again if they had been rebuilt.
The report is by Mizanur Rahman Ranga, Amar Desh's Saghata (Gaibandha) correspondent.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Source: Amar Desh
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