Striking or Blockading Against Court Orders is Unacceptable: High Court

The High Court of Bangladesh, led by Justice Mr. Shashank Shekhar Sarkar, has issued a strict directive completely prohibiting transport owner associations and road transport groups from calling strikes or blockades in protest against any court judgments or orders. This decisive judicial ruling effectively strips transport organizations of any legal scope to enforce work stoppages, mandating that any party aggrieved by a judicial directive must seek remedies through established legal procedures rather than resorting to disruptive public demonstrations that paralyze everyday life.

This significant intervention arrives amid a history of transport-related strikes that have frequently crippled public mobility and freight logistics across the country. Past disruptions caused by transport syndicates have repeatedly generated immense public suffering, prompting administrative interventions. The court’s latest stance seeks to curb the recurring trend of using transport boycotts as leverage against judicial outcomes, prioritizing uninterrupted public commuting and national supply chain stability over sectional grievances.

Adding to these legal tensions, the High Court recently addressed a related petition concerning the operation of sleeper buses on major highways, reinforcing that such vehicles cannot operate without explicit authorization from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority. By clarifying that regulatory compliance supersedes association demands, the court underscored the necessity of strict adherence to official statutory frameworks. Observers note that this ruling marks a crucial step toward establishing greater rule of law within a historically volatile and powerful sector.