The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking 14 people, including the Industries Secretary and the director general of Department of Environment (DoE), to explain why contempt of court charges should not be drawn against them for flouting its order over relocating tanneries from the city’s Hazaribagh area.An HC bench comprising Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal came up with the rule in response to a contempt of court petition. Then rule is returnable in two weeks. Advocate Manzil Morshed who stood for then petitioner during the hearing said the HC ordered the relocation tanneries from Hazaribagh in phases. Later, the court on July 23, 2009 directed the authorities concerned to relocate the factories by February 24, 2010. However, it extended the deadline later and asked the government to execute it. As the order went unheeded, the court issued the rule following a contempt of court petition. – UNB
