Apt compensation for Russel: HC sets April 15 to deliver verdict

The High Court today set April 15 to deliver its verdict on writ petition seeking adequate compensation for Russel Sarker, who lost his leg after a bus of Green Line Paribahan ran over him in April 2018.

Earlier on March 31 last year, the High Court had directed Green Line to pay Tk 50 lakh to Russel Sarker in installments.

But it has so far given Tk 13.38 lakh, the petitioner's lawyer Advocate Khandakar Shamsul Haque Reza Advocate Monjurul told The Daily Star yesterday.

The court is also expected to issue directives to stop reckless driving on April 15.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader fixed the date for delivering the verdict after concluding hearing on the writ petition.

On April 4, 2018, Russel (26), a driver working for a power company, and a Green Line bus driver had an argument after the bus rear-ended Russel's car near Mayor Hanif Flyover in Dhaka.

At one-point Russel ran after the bus to stop it when the bus driver ran him over.

Russel was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and was later transferred to Apollo Hospitals.

Advocate Umme Kulsum Smrity, a Supreme Court lawyer, on May 13, 2018, filed a writ petition with the HC, seeking necessary order to compensate Russel and stop reckless driving.

Following the petition, the HC issued a rule the next day, asking Green Line authorities and the government to explain why Russel should not be given a compensation of Tk 1 crore.

In the rule, the HC asked the authorities concerned of the government to show reasons as to why they should not be directed to strictly enforce relevant laws and rules for free movement of passengers and formulate a new law for preventing reckless driving and such road accidents in future.

Barrister M Harun-Ur Rashid appeared for Green Line Paribahan while Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the state.