The education program at BKMS Secondary School in Kulbaria village under Atlia Union of Dumuria upazila, Khulna, has been shut down due to pressure from nearby brick kiln owners. The school, established in 2005 and located about five kilometers from Kathaltala Bazar, has not held classes for two years. Because of the closure, students from four surrounding villages—Bagachra, Kulbaria, Murabunia, and Sundarbunia—must now travel five to six kilometers to attend other schools.

Within one kilometer of the school, five brick kilns operate along the Ghengrile River under Water Development Board’s 17/2 polder area. Despite previous raids and fines by the Department of Environment, the kilns continue production, causing severe air pollution, soil degradation, and health problems for residents. Locals allege that toxic smoke and heavy vehicle movement have made the area unsafe, while farmland and fisheries have suffered.

Local authorities, including the union parishad chairman and the upazila executive officer, have pledged to investigate and take action to protect the school and enforce environmental laws, which prohibit brick kilns within one kilometer of educational institutions.