The High Court (HC) yesterday summoned chief executive officers of both Dhaka north and south city corporations on May 15, to explain their actions about complying with a previous directive issued over curbing air pollution in Dhaka.

The court also asked Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah-Al Mahmud Bashar to instruct secretaries of forest ministry and public administration to take necessary steps for appointing adequate executive magistrates to run mobile courts to check air pollution across the country.

The bench of Justice Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order, while hearing a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).  

Petioner’s lawyer Advocate Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that on March 13, the HC had directed respondents to place separate reports before it in this regard.

But the reports they submitted were ambiguous and dissatisfactory, he said.

Following the same petition, the HC on January 28 this year ordered director general of Department of Environment to take steps to conduct mobile court twice a week against those responsible for air pollution in Dhaka.

Advocate Nur-Un Nahar appeared for DNCC and DSCC at yesterday’s hearing.