Man missing since falling into Ctg drain last year: HC rules for Tk 60 lakh compensation

The High Court today (September 20, 2022) issued a rule asking the respondents to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to give Tk 60 lakh as compensation to the family of Saleh Ahmed, who went missing after falling into an open drain in Chattogram in August last year.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) mayor and its secretary, and chairman of Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC bench of Justice Khizir Ahmed Choudhury and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir issued the rule following a writ petition filed by the victim's son Sadeq Ullah Mohim on August 17 this year seeking necessary order on the respondents to give him compensation.

Writ petitioner's lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir told the HC that a committee formed by the cabinet division has found that CCC and CDA are responsible for the incident.

The negligence of the CCC and CDA in keeping the drain safe has violated the constitutional right to life of Saleh and they are legally bound to give appropriate compensation to the family of the victim, he argued.

Manir told The Daily Star that Saleh (52), a vegetable vendor in the port city's Chawkbazar area, fell into an open drain while wading in waist-deep water in Chattogram city, due to overnight rain, on August 25 last year still remains missing.

The fire service and civil defence have tried to rescue Saheh for three days but they failed.

The CCC authorities promised to give a job to Saleh's son Sadeq, who is a HSC student, at the CCC office as compensation but they did not give him the job, Manir said, adding that Sadeq and his mother have no source of income now.

Deputy Attorney General Pratikar Chakma represented the state during the petition hearing.