 A wood factory has been built illegally like a frog’s umbrella in Kalihati of Tangail. These mills are running without any regulations and environmental clearance. The black smoke of these mills is polluting the environment. Due to the polluted environment, the people in the vicinity are at serious health risk. Children including school and college students are suffering from various complex diseases including respiratory problems. It can be seen on the surface, these illegal wood factories have been built in Agcharan area of Kushtia, Kamarthi and Balla Union of the municipality on Charan-Balla road of Kalihati upazila. There are numerous residential houses around the mills. Due to this, the environment of those areas is getting polluted. Due to the black washing of the mill, the people around are suffering from various diseases including respiratory problems. Due to the smoke and stench of the mill, the people around have to live in misery. When the locals complained about this, the mill owners threatened them in various ways. Locals have applied to various places for remedial measures, but they are not getting any remedial measures. Several people who did not wish to be named said that Sabinur Islam, the mill owner in Kamarthi area of the upazila, has been making wood illegally by burning rice husks for a long time. A mill owner named Azizur Rahman in Ag Charan area has built a wood mill without environmental clearance. Black smoke from the wood mill has made the house unlivable. Children are suffering from various diseases including respiratory problems. They behave badly if they protest being dominant in the area.
They also said that they have complained in various places to stop these illegal wood mills. The families around the mills demanded immediate closure of these illegal mills.
 Soleman Bepari, Jalal Uddin of Kushtia area of Kalihati municipality, Akbar Hossain and Majnu Mia of Kamarthi village said that these illegal wood mills have been running for long days without any documents. In this school students and young children are getting affected by various diseases. If anyone protests, they fear a false case against them. Nazmul Hussain, Executive Officer of Kalihati Upazila, said that he did not know about the matter. Necessary action will be taken after inquiry.
Zamir Uddin, deputy director of Tangail Environment Department, said that he is not aware of these similarities. It is also illegal to set up wood factories without a permit from the Department of Environment. Legal action will be taken after inquiry.
