The High Court on Sunday declared any strike or hartal called in protest against a court verdict or order illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Sashanka Shekhar Sarkar and Justice Faysal Hasan Arif passed the order after hearing a writ petition.

It also asked the authorities concerned to take action against bus owners' associations and transport workers' organisations if they call such programmes.

The HC also directed the home secretary, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) to take action under criminal law if any strike or hartal is enforced against a court verdict or order.

In its observation, the HC said the verdicts and orders of courts are binding on everyone under Article 112 of the Constitution.

Although there is a legal avenue to appeal against a verdict, calling a hartal or strike in protest against a court verdict or order is illegal and contrary to the Constitution, it said.

Five people, including filmmaker Tareque Masud and journalist Mishuk Munier, were killed in a road accident in Ghior upazila of Manikganj district in August 2011.

A case was filed against the bus driver over the accident, and Manikganj Additional District and Sessions Judge sentenced the driver to life imprisonment on February 22, 2017.

Protesting the court order, the transport owners reportedly went on a strike.

Later, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), a human rights organisation, filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking necessary legal intervention in the public interest.

Following the writ petition, the High Court issued a rule in 2017 asking as to why enforcing any strike or hartal against any court verdict should not be declared illegal.

It also asked the persons concerned to withdraw their strike within 24 hours and ensure movement of vehicles on road.