It has been exactly two years since college student Rajib Hossain died after losing a hand that got stuck between two buses racing in the city, but his family has neither got justice nor any compensation yet.

Investigation officer of the case in December last year submitted charge sheet to a Dhaka Court "secretly" under section 304 (B) of Bangladesh Penal Code, which grants imprisonment for three years if proven guilty, although a probe report earlier found that unholy competition between the buses led to his death.

The family filed a no-confidence petition against the charge sheet as they believe the drivers of the two buses -- BRTC and Sajan Paribahan -- should get life sentences.

While they are waiting for hearing of the petition, the drivers -- who were arrested -- recently came out on bail.

Besides, the family is yet to get Tk 50 lakh as compensation, as per a High Court verdict. The matter was stalled as bus authorities filed two separate leave-to-appeal petitions with the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court verdict. The SC is yet to set any date for hearing the appeals.

"It was a murder. Rajib was killed due to the competition of the two buses… But we are in doubt of getting justice as the investigation officer did not submit charge sheet properly,"  Jahanara Begum, aunt of Rajib, told The Daily Star yesterday.

Sub-inspector Idris Ali of Shahbagh Police Station submitted the charge sheet to a Dhaka Court on December 22 last year where he mentioned that he shared his findings with victim's family.

But Jahanara said they came to know about the charge sheet submission in February this year.

Jahanara said their no-confidence petition was scheduled for hearing on April 1 but did not due to the closure of courts following the coronavirus outbreak.

The right hand of Rajib, a third-year student at Titumir Government College in the capital, got stuck between two speeding buses in Karwan Bazar. After being in coma for two weeks, Rajib died on April 17, 2018.

Family members said Rajib and his two brothers were orphaned at an early age. He used to support his brothers with earnings form a part-time job and private tuition. Rajib's brothers Mehedi Hasan Bappi -- a ninth grader -- and Abdulla Hridoy -- an eighth grader -- stay at a hostel of a madrasa in Mir Hazirbagh of Jatrabari.

The family is concerned about their future and believe they would get a little relief if they get the compensation.

Following a writ petition, the High Court on May 8, 2018, ordered the bus companies to pay Tk 1 crore to Rajib's family. BRTC and Sajan Paribahan challenged the HC order and the Supreme Court on May 22 last year stayed the order and asked the HC to form an independent committee to assess the liabilities.

The committee, led by Prof Mizanur Rahman, director of Accident Research Institute at Buet, in its report submitted to the court said reckless driving was the "primary cause of the accident".

The report pointed out that the heavy vehicles were being illegally driven by drivers with licences to drive light vehicles.

On October 25 last year, The HC in its full verdict asked BRTC and Sajan Paribahan owners to pay in two months Tk 25 lakh each to Rajib's brothers.

Both BRTC and Sajan authorities later filed leave-to-appeals with the SC. The SC is yet to set any date for hearing on the appeals, BRTC lawyer Barrister Moniruzzaman told The Daily Star.

In the verdict, the HC directed authorities concerned to bring bus services in all metropolitan cities under the franchising system, and said trip-based or daily payment based appointment of public bus drivers should be banned; a company should recruit them with monthly salaries. The court also ordered authorities concerned to run vision and drug tests at the time of granting and renewing licences for drivers of all vehicles.

However, the scenario on the roads -- at least up till the countrywide closure of public transportation late last month -- has not shown any considerable change.