The High Court today issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to formulate an eco-friendly law, rule, regulation, or policy for cutting and planting trees.

In the rule, the HC also asked authorities concerned to show causes why their inaction and apathy in this regard should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Md Tanvir Ahmed seeking necessary directives.

The HC in the rule also asked them to explain why they should not be directed to take immediate steps to reduce heatwave and temperature across the country.

Earlier on May 2, the lawyer served a legal notice on the government, asking it to formulate environment-friendly law for cutting and planting trees and to take immediate steps to reduce heatwave and temperature across the country.

He sent the notice after Bangla daily Ittefaq published two reports on April 24 and 25 on felling 3,000 trees in Kushtia. The notice took note of another report published on Prothom Alo on April 29, which said 90 percent of Dhaka was in danger due to the heatwave.

Secretary to environment ministry, director general of environment department, chief conservator of forests, director of Dhaka metropolitan office under DoE, and divisional forest officer in Kushtia were made recipients to the notice.

The recipients have evidently failed in their respective obligations, and therefore, legal proceedings will be initiated against them if steps, necessary to rectify the present situation, are not taken immediately, the notice added.