Dhaka, March 9 -- The country's concrete block manufacturers on Saturday urged the government to implement its decision to completely phase out the traditional clay bricks in public infrastructure development projects.

Despite a government plan to replace clay-burnt bricks with concrete blocks by FY 2024-25, the use of concrete blocks remains below 20 per cent, they said. Due to stakeholders' negligence to enforce the government decision, block manufacturers have been facing serious trouble, they added.

A trade body of concrete block makers, Bangladesh Concrete Blocks Prostutkarak Malik Somite (BCBPMS), came up with the call at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

BCBPMS President Shakawat Hossain, also a retired...