Compensation or confiscation

The High Court yesterday directed Green Line Paribahan not to sell tickets for Thursday, saying that it would order confiscation of the company's buses for an auction if it failed to pay a compensation of Tk 50 lakh to Russell Sarker by Wednesday.

Russell, 26, a car driver of a power company, lost his left leg from below the knee after he was knocked down by a Green Line bus near Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover in the capital's Dholaipar on April 28 last year.

An altercation broke out between Russell and the bus driver over rear-ending his car. As Russell chased down the bus, the bus driver ran him over.

The injured was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with the severed leg and later transferred to Square and Apollo hospitals.

Yesterday, the HC also ordered Green Line Paribahan to submit a report by Wednesday after complying with its order and fixed April 10 for passing further orders on the issue.

The bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the order after hearing the statement of Green Line Paribahan General Manger Abdus Sattar.

Sattar appeared before the bench at 2:00pm as per its earlier order.

Responding to queries from the HC, Sattar said his company could not give the money to Russell as its owner, Mohammad Alauddin, was abroad.

He said Alauddin, an elderly person, was sick and he went to India on March 31 for treatment. He will return home on Tuesday.

Sattar told the HC that they informed Alauddin, who issues all the cheques on behalf of Green Line Paribahan, about the court's directive.

The HC then asked Sattar not to sell tickets for Thursday and make the passengers suffer by doing so if the company did not pay Tk 50 lakh to Russell by Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the HC bench summoned the transport company official to appear before it to give an explanation for not paying Tk 50 lakh to Russell in line with its previous order.

The victim, along with his father, wife and two-year-old child, was present at the court. 

WRIT PETITION

During hearing a writ petition, the HC bench on March 31 directed the Green Line Paribahan to pay Tk 50 lakh to Russell by April 3 and also asked the company to inform it by April 4 (yesterday) after complying with its order.

Also on March 31, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the March 12 HC order that asked the Green Line to pay Tk 50 lakh to Russell for treatment.

Advocate Umme Kulsum Smrity had filed the writ petition with the HC on May 13 last year, seeking necessary order on the authorities concerned to compensate Russell and stop reckless driving.

The following day, the HC issued a rule asking the Green Line Paribahan and the government to explain why they would not be ordered to pay a compensation of Tk 1 crore to Russell.

Advocate Khandker Shamsul Haque Reza appeared for the writ petitioner while advocate Md Ozi Ullah defended the Green Line Paribahan.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Shamsul said a case was filed in connection with the accident and the bus driver was on bail.