The High Court yesterday blasted all departments concerned of the government for their failure to curb air pollution in Dhaka despite its repeated directives.

The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali, while hearing a writ petition, said water is not spread sufficiently to reduce air pollution, and the mosquito menace continues.

"The two city corporations in Dhaka must look into this situation. The police will also have to take proper and adequate action to stop the emission of black smoke from vehicles and plying old vehicles expiring tenure," the court said.

The bench ordered the Department of Environment (DoE) to immediately shut down all the illegal brick kilns in Dhaka and surrounding five districts -- Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gazipur and Manikganj.

It recommended legal action against the kiln owners and ordered DoE to submit a report after complying with the directives in two weeks.

Lawyer Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner, while DAG Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar and lawyer Amatul Karim Swapna represented the government and DoE, respectively, and lawyer Zobair Hossain Sajib stood for DSCC during the hearing.