M. N. NAHER1, M. M. RAHMAN2 and S. KUMAR3*
1=Mst. Nazmun Naher, Vice Principal, Shailkupa City Degree College, Shailkupa, Jhenaidah, 2=Md. Mizanur Rahman, Lecturer, Department of Geography, Alhaj Amjad Hossain Degree College, Pangsa, Rajbari and 3=Sukanto Kumar, M. Phil Fellow, Department of Business Administration, Pabna University of Science and Technology, Pabna, Bangladesh. *Corresponding author’s Email: shrutydebnath@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This study was undertaken at Harinakundu upazila under Jhenaidah district of Bangladesh during the period from November 2019 to march 2020.A questionnaire survey was conducted at selected targeted members living at or near brick field areas with aim to assess the impacts of brick fields on environment, rural economy and the socio-economic conditions of the rural people. Findings of this study were based on randomly selected respondents’ perception, not purposively or deliberately. This research is investigated on primary and secondary data sources. Brick kiln owners and surrounding farmers, date juice extractors and local potters of the associated brick kilns have been interviewed through a pre-structured questionnaire and direct viva. A total of 40 brick kilns, 30 date juice extractors, 30 potters and 70 farmers have been surveyed to assess the effect of brick kiln. Economic insolvency decreased cultivable land and subsequent reductions in crop production and different types of problems related to environment degradation were reported. Date trees around brick fields were demolished or ruined badly and the income from dates for date juice extractors were deteriorated. As a result, the potters’ livelihood is being endangered. Noticeable negative impacts of this class were found and the economic conditions of these commuters are bad to worse day by day.
Keywords: Rural economy, Date juice, Extractors, Potters, Brick kiln and Rural people.