Dhaka, March 2 (IANS): The Bangladesh High Court on Monday asked the government why its "lack of action" in imposing "reasonable restrictions" on blockades and shutdowns should not be declared "illegal".

A bench of justices Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Abu Taher Md. Saifur Rahman also asked why the blockades should not be declared "unconstitutional".

The observations came after the initial hearing of a petition filed by the country's four major business bodies, bdnws24.com reported.

Earlier, the bench had instructed the government to take measures to stop the ongoing violence during BNP-sponsored blockades that started from January 5.

The BNP-led coalition has been enforcing an indefinite transport blockade across Bangladesh demanding interim polls under a non-party government.

It has been also calling for shutdowns everyday except for weekly and public holidays from the beginning of February.

More than 100 people have died, mostly of burns suffered in firebombings of vehicles.