Death of Jihad: HC summons railway DG over compensation

The High Court yesterday summoned the director general of Bangladesh Railway to appear before it on August 14, for not complying with its directive over paying compensation to parents of four-year-old Jihad, who died after falling into a deep shaft in Dhaka's Shahjahanpur area in 2014.

Amzad Hossain, director general of Bangladesh railway, was oredered to appear before the HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohammad Ali by the deadline and explain why his office did not pay the compensation.

The HC bench yesterday passed the order after hearing a contempt of court petition filed by rights organisation Children's Charity Bangladesh Foundation, against three government officials including Amzad Hossain.

The HC on February 18, 2016, had delivered its short judgment directing the respondents to pay compensation to Jihad's family, but did not specify the amount. It released the full verdict of the case on October 8 last year, asking the respondents -- Bangladesh Railway and Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence -- to pay Tk 20 lakh as compensation to his parents within 90 days.

Jihad fell into an unprotected well in Shahjahanpur Railway Colony on December 26, 2014. His body was recovered by a group of volunteers the following day, shortly after government agencies called off the rescue operation, saying there was no sign of the boy inside the well.