HC questions legality of calling blockade

The High Court yesterday issued a rule upon the government and all the 41 registered political parties including the Awami League and the BNP to explain in four weeks why calling blockade should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

Following a writ petition filed by the country's top business bodies, the HC in its rule also asked the government to explain why its inaction to impose reasonable restrictions on calling hartal and blockade should not be declared unlawful.

It ordered the government and the political parties to explain why calling hartal without any prior notice would not be declared illegal and contrary to the constitution.

The court also asked the government why all the electronic and print media outlets should not be directed to refrain from publishing news related to the calling of hartal and blockade as they incite incidents of violence, resulting in infringement of fundamental rights.

The business bodies filed the petition on Sunday seeking necessary orders from the HC on the government to impose reasonable restrictions on hartals and blockade in an attempt to save businesses from financial loss.

It ordered the government to reply why it would not be directed to withhold inclusion of names of victim members of different business bodies in the list of Credit Information Bureau (CIB), which monitors the financial transaction of individuals and companies, and also why the interest against their loans at different banks should not be waived for a reasonable period.

The petitioners are-- Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Textiles Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTMEA), and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

The HC asked the government to explain why it should not be ordered to reschedule the loans of victim members under different business bodies for no less than 12 years and to compensate them for their losses suffered from January 6 till now.

It ordered the respondents to answer why the political parties calling hartal or blockade should not be declared liable for the damages to life and property done by their supporters.

Secretaries to the ministries of home, law, finance, labour, industries, commerce and information, governor of Bangladesh Bank and secretaries general of 41 political parties registered with the Election Commission have been made respondents to the rule, petitioners' lawyer Imtiaz Moinul Islam told The Daily Star.  

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman issued the rule after hearing the writ petition.

Earlier on February 15, the same court following a writ petition had ordered the government to take all necessary steps to prevent the deadly blockade and hartals. 

It had also issued a rule upon the government and the leaders of the BNP led 20-party alliance, including BNP chief Khaleda Zia, to explain in four weeks why blockades and hartals, which are detrimental to education, people's lives and properties, should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament on February 25 that the country had incurred a loss of over Tk 1,20, 000 crore in the first 52 days of the BNP-Jamaat's blockade.

The BNP-led 20-party alliance has enforced a countrywide blockade since January 6.