High Court issues rule seeking Tk 1cr compensation for Renu’s family

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why it should not be directed to compensate Tk 1 crore to the family of Taslima Begum Renu -- who was killed in a mob beating at Badda on July 20.

Secretaries concerned to the ministries of home and law, inspector general of police, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, officer-in-charge of Badda Police Station, headmaster of Uttar Badda Government Primary School and its managing committee’s president have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Renu’s sister Nazmun Nahar Nazma and Nazma’s son Syed Nasir Uddin.

They submitted the writ petition to the HC on August 18, seeking its directive on authorities concerned of the government to give Tk 1 crore in compensation to the victim’s family.

Barrister Md Abdul Halim and Advocate Ishrat Hasan appeared for the writ petitioners.

Taslima Begum Renu, a single mother of two, was beaten dead on the morning of July 20, when she went to Uttar Badda Government Primary School to ask about the admission process, according to police.

Her nephew Nasir filed a case against 400-500 unknown people with Badda Police Station.

Locals told police that some people thought she was a child abductor and attacked her.

Mobs beat to death four more people on suspicion of being child abductors on the same day.

Following another writ petition, the HC on Monday asked the home secretary and IGP to inform the court by November 18 what steps it has taken against incidents of mob beating and its perpetrators. It also issued a rule asking the government to explain why its failure to protect Taslima Begum Renu and others who were killed in mob beatings this year should not be declared illegal.

During hearing, Advocate Ishrat told the court on Monday that seven people were reportedly killed and 35 others injured in mob beating incidents earlier this year.