This is with reference to the letter "Who gains from hartals". I completely support the views. In any democratic set-up, hartal is an effective tool to register protest. This is to be used but the question is up to what extent.

The political leaders should understand that by bringing the country to a halt not only the livelihoods of the ordinary people are at risk but it hampers the economy also. This loss can be in millions of dollars. In India there is a Supreme Court ruling that if any political party calls a hartal, the party has to pay a minimum fine for bringing the whole city to a halt.

A local party had to pay a fine to the government for its movement as there was damage to public property.

Similarly, a national party also had to pay fine for damage to public property. This acts as a deterrent to calling hartal rather frequently. Bandhs can turn violent at times, so heavy fines are a means to control them. Also the parties should be charged heavily for the damage to public property as compensation.

I think the highest court of Bangladesh and the lawmakers should think about it.