Shariatpur: In a joint drive, a truck loaded with 76 sacks weighing 3,000 kilograms of banned polythene shopping bags was seized in Premtala under Sadar upazila of Shariatpur district. The Department of Environment, Local Administration, and Law Enforcement Agencies have jointly conducted a special drive across the country against illegal polythene aimed at protecting the environment.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, as part of the move, a mobile court against illegal polythene was operated in Premtala of Shariatpur Sadar Upazila led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Elora Yasmin in collaboration with the army. The mobile court seized the large amount of polythene and imposed a fine of Taka one lakh for violating Section 6(a) of the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act, 1995. The prosecution was conducted by Assistant Director of the Department of Environment, Shariatpur, Md. Russell Noman.
A mobile court against the banned hydraulic horns was also conducted, led by Tanvir Islam and Adnan Zulfiqar, to control noise pollution. During the operation, four hydraulic horns were seized from two vehicles, and a fine of Taka 1500 was collected. The prosecution was conducted by Assistant Director of the Department of Environment, Delwar Hossain.
Cases were filed against six vehicles by a mobile court led by Upazila Executive Officer Manonita Das on the Lalmonirhat-Rangpur highway in Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila. During the raid, Taka 3,000 was collected as a fine, and 10 hydraulic horns were seized and destroyed.
On another front, on August 13, two illegal brick kilns named Elahi Bricks Manu and Seven Bricks Manu were demolished in a joint operation on the orders of the High Court in the Phaitong area of Lama upazila in Bandarban district. On the same day, three illegal brick kilns were also demolished in Kishoreganj district.
The Department of Environment stated that these drives against illegal polythene, noise pollution, and violations of environmental rules will continue.