DHAKA: The High Court Monday issued a rule asking why blockade should not be declared unconstitutional.

An HC bench comprising Justice kazi Reza Ul Haque and Justice Abu Taher M Saifur Rahman issued the rule at noon following a writ of four top business organizations.

HC also asked the government to show cause as to why its inaction in imposing reasonable restriction on hartal should not be declared illegal. The government and the political parties have also been asked to explain why enforcement of hartal without any prior notice within a reasonable time would not be declared illegal.

The court also asked the government to answer why it would not be directed to waive the interest of the bank loans of the businessmen from January 6 to till withdrawal of ongoing hartal-blockade.

The government and the political parties have been asked to explain why it should not be directed to compensate the business organizations, which have incurred financial loss due to hartal and blockade.

They have also been asked to explain why the political parties, who are enforcing hartal and blockade, should not be held responsible.

Some 48 including government, election commission and registered political parties have been made respondents to the rule and asked to explain within four weeks.

BDST: 1558 HRS, MAR 02, 2015