Dhaka: The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why they should not be directed to follow the Appellate Division’s guidelines and take effective measures to stop harassing the supporters and agents of the BNP mayoral candidate in Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) polls.

An HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir came up with the rule following a writ petition.

The Home Secretary, Election Commission, Inspector General of Police, Gazipur Police Commissioner, Police Super and three others have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in two weeks.

The court also verbally asked Attorney General Mahbubey Alam to make sure that the supporters and agents of BNP mayoral candidate in the GCC polls Hasan Uddin Sarker are not arrested arbitrarily ahead of and during the voting.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed along with Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon stood for the petitioner while the Attorney General represented the state.

Earlier, in the day, Hasan Uddin Sarker filed the writ petition with the HC seeking its directives to stop harassing his supporters and agents violating the Appellate Division directives.