Why no compensation to victim losing leg under bus wheels

The High Court (HC) yesterday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to give Tk 1.5 crore in compensation to Nurul Amin Chowdhury, who lost his right leg under the wheels of a bus in Dhaka last month.

The court also ordered the road transport and bridges secretary to form a committee and assess the losses and compensation and submit a report before the court in 30 days.

Secretaries to the ministries of home affairs and road transport and bridges, inspector general of police, chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, deputy commissioner of Gulshan Zone of DMP, deputy commissioner of north division of traffic of DMP, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station, traffic police sergeant Md Mansur and bus (Dhaka Metro-B-113083) owner Md Nasirudin have been made respondents to the rule.    

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Shahidul Karim issued the rule and order following a writ petition filed by Amnesty Bengal, a rights organisation, seeking necessary order.

The right leg of Nurul Amin Chowdhury, 56, a trader, was reportedly damaged under the wheels of a bus in Mohakhali area on May 17. He was admitted to Nitor in Dhaka and later to a private hospital where doctors amputated the damaged leg. Advocate Dewan MA Obayeed Hossain appeared for the petitioner.