Puthia, Dec 20, (V7N) – Allegations have emerged that brick kiln owners in Puthia are producing substandard bricks with reduced measurements, leading to inflated construction costs and consumer deception. The practice has been reported as a result of insufficient monitoring by the authorities, with many brick kilns using irregular measurements that are significantly smaller than the standard specifications, ultimately affecting building projects in the region.
 
According to local reports, Puthia has 16 active brick kilns, of which 11 are currently operational. Out of these, only four kilns have valid licenses, while the remaining seven are operating pending approval. The government's regulation stipulates that each brick should measure 10 inches in length, 5 inches in width, and 3 inches in height. However, some kiln owners have been ignoring these rules and producing bricks that fall short of the required size.
 
A visit to several brick kilns revealed that kiln owners are making bricks with dimensions smaller than the prescribed measurements. Instead of the standard 10-inch length, many bricks measure only 9.5 inches. Similarly, the width is reduced from the standard 5 inches to 4.5 inches, and the height is smaller than the mandated 3 inches, with some bricks measuring just 2.75 inches.
 
Jalal Uddin, former general secretary of the Puthia Construction Workers Union, stated that while a few brick kilns had previously made smaller bricks, the issue has become widespread in the last two years. This reduction in brick size has led to higher costs for builders and homeowners, as additional materials are required to complete construction projects.
 
Workers involved in brick production have confirmed that the brick forms used by the kiln owners are smaller by half an inch on each side. They explained that the kiln owners provide these forms, and the workers have no choice but to make bricks to these dimensions. As a result, for every 1,000 bricks, approximately 60 extra bricks are produced due to the reduced size.
 
Brick buyers in areas like Jiupara have raised concerns about being deceived. Jahangir Alam, a buyer, stated that kiln owners are charging up to 10,600 taka for a set of bricks that are significantly smaller than expected.
 
An anonymous kiln owner revealed that there is an association of kiln owners who manage the operations of the kilns and deal with local authorities, including the police and the administration. He claimed that each kiln is required to contribute a substantial amount of money to the association every month, but he is unaware of how the association spends this money.
 
Belal Hossain, general secretary of the Puthia Brick Kiln Owners Association, defended the practices of the members, stating that the bricks are made to the correct size when they are raw. He argued that it is the post-burning size that matters, and it is beyond their control. He added that customers are free to choose whether or not to buy the bricks based on their size, and emphasized that the bricks from his association are of better quality than those from other local kilns. Hossain also mentioned that he was not aware of the issues surrounding illegal kilns.
 
Ghulam Mustafa Mamun, the general secretary of the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in Rajshahi, criticized the actions of unscrupulous brick makers, stating that consumers are being cheated with substandard bricks. He pointed out that the issue has been reported to the district administration, the Consumer Rights Protection Department, BSTI, and the Environment Department, but no action has been taken so far.
 
Masum Ali, the Assistant Director of the Rajshahi Consumer Rights Protection Department, confirmed that letters had been sent to all kiln owners, instructing them to produce bricks of the proper size using high-quality clay. He also stated that producing smaller bricks is a punishable offense. However, he mentioned that no formal complaints had been received, and assured that the matter would be investigated.
 
The Upazila Executive Officer, A.K.M. Nur Hossain Nirjhar, expressed that he was unaware of the issue regarding smaller brick sizes, and that no complaints had been received yet. He reiterated that there is no allowance for reducing brick sizes, and vowed to take legal action after speaking to those responsible for the practice.
 
As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what measures the local authorities will take to resolve this issue, and whether actions will be taken against the erring kiln owners to prevent further consumer exploitation.
 
END/RAR/SMA/AJ/