Dhaka: Terming unfortunate the countrywide indefinite transport strike enforced by Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation following a court verdict, Law Minister Anisul Huq on Tuesday said they cannot continue it holding people hostage.

“They can’t continue their movement keeping people hostage, if they aren’t satisfied with the verdict they can go to court and put forward their arguments,” said the minister while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.

Replying to a question whether the strike enforced by the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation is a contempt of court, Anisul said, “It’s a matter of court and the court will look into it.”

Talking to reporters, the Law Minister said, “The verdict in Japanese citizen Hoshi Kunio killing case was pronounced in a very short time which is a bright example. If courts can maintain the pace in disposing of cases then there’ll be no judicial backlog.”

Earlier in the day, a special court convicted five members of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and sentenced them to death for killing Japanese citizen Hoshi Kunio, 65, who was gunned down near his farmhouse at Kachu Alutary in Kaunia upazila on October 3, 2015.

Replying to a query about the government’s interference in the political cases, the minister said, “The government is not interfering in the investigation into any political cases. Those proved guilty have been convicted.”

Talking about the recent remarks of BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed that Khaleda Zia will be able to contest the next general election even if she is convicted, Anisul said, “The cases filed against Khaleda Zia are under trial and those who made the remarks are making illogical comment.”