JS body for compensation from culprits

A parliamentary body yesterday recommended that the government formulate a law to realise compensation from those involved in violence and subversive activities during hartals and blockades.
 

The parliamentary standing committee on the labour and employment ministry made the recommendation at a meeting at the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban.
 

"Enactment of a law with a specific provision for realising compensation from the persons responsible for arson attacks, vandalism and other subversive activities during hartal and blockade programmes has been suggested ...," committee member Shirin Akhter told journalists after the meeting chaired by its chairman Mannujan Sufian.
 

She said the country currently has no law that can ensure redress for the victims of such violence.
 

The compensation amount and the method of realising it would be detailed in the law, she added.

"If any party calls hartal or blockade and any damage is done to anyone during the programme, that particular party should be held responsible for the acts and it should pay the compensation to the victims," said another member of the committee, wishing anonymity.
 

According to government statistics, as many as 55 lives have perished in petrol bomb attacks and 556 people injured during the nonstop blockade enforced by BNP-Jamaat alliance since January 6. Besides, at least 664 vehicles have been burnt, 410 more vandalised and 28 establishments torched while railway saw 25 attacks during this period.