The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why an order should not be given to formulate a provision for appropriate punishment for hurting religious sentiment.

The HC bench of Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Asif Hasan came up with the rule following a writ petition, which sought HC directives to introduce the death penalty as the maximum punishment for hurting religious sentiment.

Cabinet and law secretaries, among others, were asked to respond to the rule within four weeks, said Advocate Md Golam Kibria, who filed the writ as public interest litigation on Sunday.

He said under the Bangladesh Penal Code, the maximum punishment for such offences is only two years’ imprisonment. The Cyber Security Act also maintains a maximum penalty of two years.

“We believe that this punishment is insufficient. As a result, many people feel emboldened to make derogatory remarks about religious matters,” the lawyer said. He further said they have sought a directive to enact a law prescribing the maximum punishment for offences involving hurting religious sentiment. “If the maximum penalty is ensured in such cases, no one will dare commit this offence,” he added.