The administration has conducted a raid on an illegal kiln used to make charcoal by burning wood in Lohagara Upazila of Narail, destroying 15 kilns and extinguishing the fire with water. A mobile court has also fined three workers and the kiln owner.
On Monday (November 2) at around 2:30 pm, the administration conducted a raid in the Sarulia area of Kashipur Union of the upazila.
According to the mobile court sources, based on the information from the Narail Environment Department, a raid was conducted on a kiln that was illegally burning wood to make coal. At that time, 3 workers including the owner of the kiln were arrested and 2 others escaped. Later, 15 coal-making furnaces were broken and extinguished with water with the help of the fire service.
Meanwhile, the mobile court judge, Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate of the District Commissioner's Office, Md. Rubel Sheikh, fined Khandaker Obaiduzzaman, the owner of the illegal coal kiln, Tk 20,000, employee Md. Hiru Tk 1,000, and Abdullah and Kamal Tk 500 each. Approximately 3,000 maunds of wood and 902 sacks of coal were seized in the operation. The price of the seized wood has been fixed at Tk 120-140 per maund and the price of coal at Tk 24-28 per kg.
Mobile Court Executive Magistrate Md. Rubel Sheikh, who led the operation, said that burning wood to make charcoal is completely punishable and prohibited by law. Three workers and the kiln owner were fined for their involvement in illegal activities. The seized goods have been given to the Kashipur Union Parishad Chairman. They have been ordered to sell them by the next 15th and deposit the entire amount in the state treasury.
A team from Lohagara Fire Service and Ansar members provided full support to the mobile court during the operation. Other concerned officials and employees were also present.
