Bangladesh, July 4 -- The High Court has issued a rule asking why the administration's failure to prevent attacks and the forced cutting of hair and dreadlocks of Bauls, Fakirs, and ascetics across Bangladesh should not be declared illegal.

The court also ordered authorities to investigate the incidents and submit a report within 60 days, naming those involved in the assaults.

The High Court bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury passed the order on Jun 21, one of the petitioners confirmed on Saturday.

The rule asks six respondents -- including the secretaries of home, religious affairs, and cultural affairs ministries, the inspector general of police (IGP), the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner,...