An illegal lead/battery smelting plant. Photo: Ministry

DHAKA, Jan 13, 2025 (BSS) - The Department of Environment (DoE) has intensified anti-pollution drives across the country and taking strict actions against those involved in environment pollution.

Mobile courts conducted the drives today against illegal brick kilns in Jhalkathi, Dhaka and Tangail. 

Five cases were filed against entities polluting air and fined them Taka 13 lakh. Operations of three brick kilns were shut down, said a press release of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

To control industrial pollution, a mobile court in Munshiganj penalized a steel/re-rolling mill Taka 4 lakh. Several other factories were warned for polluting environment.

Three mobile courts conducted drives against illegal lead/battery smelting in Narayanganj and Dhaka and fined seven factories Taka 3.8 lakh. 

Four factories were shut down, and four trucks loaded with equipment were seized during the drives.

To curb emissions of black smoke, a mobile court in Dhaka's Bijoynagar fined drivers of four vehicles Taka 5,000.

For violations of air pollution control regulations, a mobile court in Jigatola fined one entity Taka 5,000.

Two mobile courts conducted drives against banned polythene shopping bags in Dhaka's Shyamoli and Gopalganj and fined one business entity Taka 5,000 and seized 45 kilograms of polythene. 

The DoE remains committed to continuing such drives to check air and environmental pollution, the release said.