The High Court (HC) on Tuesday issued a rule asking authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why the top court should not pass an order to form a committee for controlling the cutting of trees across the country.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice K M Zahid Sarwar passed the order asking officials concerned, including the secretary of the environment ministry, to respond.

The court came up with the order after holding hearing on a writ petition filed by rights body Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) in this regard. Advocate Manzill Murshid filed the plea on behalf of HRPB.

HRPB filed the writ, referring to newspaper reports on the felling of thousands of trees across the country despite the recent rise in temperature.