Dhaka: The High Court (HC) on Tuesday issued a rule asking 14 government officials, including the secretaries of Land, Environment and Forests and Fisheries and Livestock ministries, to explain why contempt of court charges should not be brought against them.

A two-member HC bench of Justice M Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Ashish Ranjan Das issued the rule after a hearing on a petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela).

Apart from the three secretaries, the chairman of Nadi Rakkha Commission, the director general of the Department of Environment, the director general of Bangladesh Water Development Board, the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police of Bhola were asked to come up with their replies to the rule.

Ali Mostafa Khan and Sayeed Ahmed Kabir stood for the petitioner during the hearing.

In 2015, the HC issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why it would not direct to free Bhola Khan in Bhola Sadar upazila from illegal occupation, said Sayeed Ahmed Kabir.

The court also asked for setting the boundary of the canal, making it free from occupation and pollution and taking environmental management planning and submitting a compliance report.

As the authorities concerned did not follow the HC order, Bela filed a petition with the court on March 20.