BANGLADESH

The Department of Environment (DoE) has ordered closure of three paper mills and fined them Tk 1.45 million for polluting the Karnaphuli river.

The action was taken during a special drive of a team led by Zafar Alam, director of Chittagong division DoE, at the mills, located near the river in the Halisahar Kha Chaar area in Patiya.

"Haqqani Pulp and Paper Mill, Ambia Pulp and Paper Mill and Anwara Pulp and Paper Mill have been fined Tk 1.45 million as they did not take any step [to stop pollution of the river] despite being warned in the past," assistant director of Chittagong division DoE Mohaammad Mainuddin told .

"The mills have been polluting the Karnaphuli river and the environment, as they did not set up effluent treatment plants (ETP)," he added.

He said the department also fined a brickfield, Kerani Haat Bricks, at Satkania upazila Tk 75,000.