Narayanganj factory fire: HC issues rule for compensating victims’ families

The High Court today issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to provide adequate compensation to the victims of the Hashem Foods fire incident, in Narayanganj's Rupganj on July 8.

At the same time, the court ordered the respondents to submit the probe report of the fire in 30 days. A total of 52 workers were killed in the fire.

Inspector general of the department of inspection for factories and establishments, deputy commissioner of Narayanganj, and director-general of fire service and civil defence have been made respondents to the rule.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman issued the rule and order following a writ petition filed by four rights organisations seeking necessary directives.

Lawyers Sara Hossain and Aneek R Haque appeared for the petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar represented the state.

On July 10, rights organisations -- Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) and Safety and Rights Society (SRS) -- collectively submitted the writ petition to the HC seeking necessary directives on the authorities concerned to give Tk 1 crore as compensation to the families of each victim who died in the fire, and to give Tk 35 lakh to each injured victim.

They also appealed to the court for an order for conducting an inquiry into the incident and to prosecute and punish those responsible for the incident.