The HC today asked explanation from the government on what steps were taken to remove dust, smoke and other deadly elements causing damage to people's health in four city corporation areas including Dhaka north and south.

In response to a writ petition the court issued a rule upon the authorities concerned of the government and Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Gazipur and Narayanganj city corporations to explain by February 25 why their inaction in this regard should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the court also asked the authorities to show cause as to why they should not be directed to remove the deadly elements from the city corporation areas to protect the people's health.

The bench of Justice Zubair Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Md Khosruzzaman came up with the order and rule following the writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyers Julhas Uddin Ahmed and Md Mojibur Rahman.

They submitted the petition on January 17 saying the city corporation sweepers abruptly sweep the roads in the morning and gather the dusts on roadsides. Therefore, dusts and wastages are spreaded in the air.

Sometimes, the wastages are burnt creating smoke, polluting the air and environment creating hazards to people's health, they said in the petition.

Due to air pollution thousands of people died and health of lakhs of people are damaged every year.

They prayed to the court to pass necessary orders on the government to take steps in this regard.