The High Court has issued a rule asking why a national committee should not be formed to control the cutting down of trees across the country to protect the environment. The bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar made the decision on Tuesday following the preliminary hearing of a writ petition. The bench gave the respondents two weeks to submit their responses, bdnews24.com reported. On May 5, the petition was filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, calling for a halt to the felling of trees nationwide. Advocate Manzil Morshed represented the petitioners in court.