The High Court yesterday issued a contempt of court rule against the Dhaka City Corporation mayor and secretary to the ministry of cultural affairs for not complying with its order to protect sanctity and dignity of the Central Shaheed Minar.

In the rule, the court asked Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and the secretary to explain within two weeks why contempt proceedings should not be brought against them on charge of violation of its order.

In response to a petition, the HC bench of Justice M Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain also asked them to appear before it on May 22.

The HC directed the DCC mayor and secretary to the ministry of cultural affairs and others concerned on August 25 last year to take necessary steps to protect sanctity and dignity of the Central Shaheed Minar that was set up to maintain the spirit of the Language Movement and pay tribute to its heroes.

Following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), the HC also had asked them to take effective steps so that no function or meeting can be held at the original Bedi (main part) of the minar.

The rights organisation filed the contempt of court petition on May 2 with the HC, saying that the mayor and secretary have not taken any step to implement the HC directives, which is contemptuous for the court.

Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Karunamay Chakma stood for the government.