The High Court (HC) has directed the government to conduct mobile court drives to shut the unauthorised brick kilns in five districts — Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Munshiganj and Manikganj — in 15 days for lessening air pollution.

The HC also ordered the government to form a high-powered committee headed by environment secretary in a bid to formulate a guideline to reduce the air pollution in and around the capital.

The committee was asked to place a report by January 5 next year.

Chief executive officers of Dhaka North and South City Corporations, representatives from WASA, BRTA, DESCO and other agencies will be included in the committee.

The HC bench comprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the order following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) seeking a necessary order.

According to Air Visual, an air quality measuring application, Dhaka had the worst air quality in the world on Monday.