The High Court today summoned 10 tannery owners, directing them to appear before it on April 10 on charge of not implementing its 2001 judgment on relocation of hazardous tannery industries from the capital's Hazaribagh area to Savar.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq passed the order following a petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a non-governmental organization, seeking a summons order against them.

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The 10 tannery owners have to appear before the HC bench by 10:30am on April 10 to explain as to why they have not relocated the tanneries to Savar despite its directives, petitioner's counsel Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star.

The tannery owners are: Arefin Shamsul Al Amin, managing director of Rana Leather Industries Ltd; Sayedul Haque Master, proprietor of M/S Jullet Enterprise; Mahbubur Rahman Panna, proprietor of M/S Pubali Tanneries; Giasuddin Ahmed Pathan, managing director of Rumi Leather Industries Ltd; Abdus Salam, proprietor of M/S Salam Tannery; Rezaul Karim Ansary, proprietor of Karim Leather Ltd; Abdul Wadud Mia, proprietor of M/S Mahin Tannery;  Abdul Wahab, proprietor of M/S Nabipur Tannery;  Mafiz Mia, proprietor of M/S Asia Tannery and Akbar Hossain, managing director of M/S Paramount Tannery, he said.

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Manzill said following a contempt petition moved by the HRPB, the HC on August 11 last year issued a contempt of court rule against the 10 tannery owners for obstructing the implementation of its 2001 judgment on relocation of hazardous tannery industries from the capital's Hazaribagh area to Savar, but, they did not make any reply to the rule.