One third of the brick kilns are in operation unlicensed, thanks to poor monitoring and punitive action by the seemingly indifferent authorities.
As many as 2,363 out of 6,843 kilns are operating countrywide without seeking approval or environmental clearances from the appropriate state authorities.
A senior official of the department of environment (DoE) said they seek more help from district administration to go tougher on errant brick fields.
More manpower is needed to address the issue properly, he told the FE.
Only 4,480 kilns have government approval, according to the August 2018 data of the DoE.
Officials said the illegal brick fields are still running, flouting the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act 2013.
The law stipulates that an owner must renew a licence and clearance certificate, they added.
At least 277 kilns in Chattogram, 196 in Gazipur and 147 in Dhaka are running without official approval.
DoE director Md Ziaul Haque said the number of illegal kilns will be more than that of the current DoE figures as many remote ones remain unreported.
He admitted that nearly 60 per cent of the kilns are still operating illegally even after the brick law 2013 came into force on July 01, 2014. "It's our sheer assumption. For exact data, the DoE needs to carry out a survey across the country," Mr Haque mentioned.
The law gave the owners two years' time to relocate and run their plants with modern technology, but they are yet to comply with the order, he said. Mr Haque said it is difficult for the undermanned DoE to monitor the nearly 7,000 brick fields.
During multiple drives in the past two years, the DoE shut down 100 unlicensed brick kilns, he added.
However, some 674 kilns, which were using the banned 'Bangla chimneys' or 'drum chimneys' in remote areas in 2013, now stands at only 5 to 10.
Md Abu Bakar, secretary general of Bangladesh Brick Manufacturers' Association, said obtaining environmental clearances is tough under existing law.
Many owners of zigzag technology applied long ago for environmental clearances, but they are yet to get them, he deplored the fact.
That's why, others are getting discouraged to apply for the same, Mr Bakar said.
He said it is required by the law to set up a brick field in a specific location and distance
