Law to ban hartal if people want: Minister

A bus burns on Rokeya Sarani at Sheorapara in Dhaka on January 11 after alleged supporters of the BNP-led 20-party alliance's nationwide indefinite blockade set it on fire. Photo: Collected

Law Minister Anisul Huq today said that the government is considering a ban on hartal (shutdown) upon the will of the people in view of the prevailing situation in the country.

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“The government may formulate a law to ban hartal if it is the desire of the people,” the minister told reporters at a discussion programme organised in Dhaka.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who pledged to avoid hartals during her 1996-2001 rule and later broke her word while her stay as an opposition during the successive government of Khaleda Zia, spoke of banning shutdowns during her last term after being elected in 2009.

After violence ran through the majority of 2013 with about 500 people killed over hartals, election violence and political violence, tension resumed since the start of this year with the first anniversary of January 5 parliamentary election.

At least 22 people have died in the country since the non-stop blockade programme of BNP-led 20-party alliance over January 5 anniversary, what the alliance labels as “democracy killing day” and the ruling party as “democracy saving day”.

The government will not endorse any such law unacceptable to people, Law Minister Huq said at the question-answer session during a “meet the reporters” discussion organised by Dhaka Reporters Unity at its office in Dhaka.

Relating to the confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the minister reiterated the government’s stance that she was not confined and not being held from leaving their houses. “The policemen deployed are just for their security.”

And, in line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s “harsher” stance against BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami’s agitation, the law minister said the cases of “violence and terrorism” would be treated in line with the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009.

According to him, the government will formulate a fresh law in April or May for the appointment for the Supreme Court judges.

“The present government has taken effective steps for bringing absconding killers of Bangabandhu killers and fugitive war crimes convicts back to Bangladesh from abroad for executing their sentences.”

Bangabandhu killers Noor Chowdhury is now in Canada and another killer Rashed Chowdhury is now in USA. The government has ensured that they cannot leave those countries, he said.

“After its approval in the cabinet, a bill will be placed in the parliament for its passage,” Anisul Huq said.

Replying to a question, Anisul Huq said this government is protecting freedom of speech and freedom of expression as these are guaranteed by the constitution.

In relating to another enquiry, the minister said he will take steps against the law enforcers who had entered the New Age office and misbehaved with the officials.

“The real killers of journalist couple Sagor Sarwar and Meherun Runi will be traced through ongoing investigation. It will take time to complete the investigation,” he added.