Dhaka: The High Court on Wednesday summoned 10 tannery owners for not complying with its order to shift tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar.

Following a petition, an HC bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq asked them to appear before the court in person on April 10 to explain their stance.

Advocate Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner while Assistant Attorney General Arbinda Kumar Roy represented the state.

Manzill Murshid said the High Court ordered shifting of tanneries from Hazaribagh 15 years ago and the government established Savar Tannery Estate accordingly.

However, the tannery owners did not shift their tanneries there, resulting in the pollution of the Buriganga River, the lifeline to the capital city of Dhaka.

Although the government had asked the owners to transfer their tanneries by December last, 10 owners did not take any steps in this regard.