The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why they should not be directed to establish effluent treatment plants (ETPs) at hospitals as per the Medical Waste Management Rules 2008, reports UNB. A bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal also wanted to know why directives should not be given to form waste management authority at every administrative division of the country.

The court came up with the rule following writ petition filed by Md Ahmed Al Amin, a reporter of a national daily.

Health, and Environment and Forests secretaries, Directors General of the Department of Environment and Directorate General of Health Services, and Bangladesh Private Clinic and Diagnostic Owners' Association were asked to reply the rule within four weeks.

They were also asked to submit a report by July 22 over the progress on forming the waste management authority in every administrative division.