Charges pressed against 2 DSCC staffers among 3

Russel Khan -- who was neither a Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) staffer nor a driver by profession -- drove the DSCC garbage truck that rammed into a 12th-grader of Notre Dame College in Dhaka's Gulistan area a year ago, found a police probe.

Nayeem Hasan, a humanities student of the college, was hit by the vehicle while he was crossing the road in front of Gulistan Hall Market on November 24 last year. Doctors declared him dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital an hour after he was rushed there for treatment.

His death sparked a huge protest among the students and mass people across the capital. The protestors sought safe roads and punishment for the culprits.

On November 15 this year, investigation officer Anisur Rahman, also sub-inspector of Paltan Model Police Station, submitted a charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka, saying that Russel and two DSCC staffers -- Mohammad Harun and Iran Mia -- are responsible for the student's death.

The charge sheet says, "Iran was the designated driver of the garbage truck, but he gave the vehicle's key to DSCC cleaner Harun. He did so without taking permission from DSCC authorities, which is a clear violation of the rules of his job."

Although Harun had no driving licence, he had been driving the DSCC vehicle since July 2020, said the investigator in the probe report.

The report said Harun was physically ill on November 24 last year, so he gave the truck's key to Russel, whose reckless and fast driving caused the victim's death.

The victim's father Shah Alam Dewan, proprietor of a book store in the capital's Nilkhet, filed a case with Paltan Model Police Station, under the Road Transport Act and against Russel, on the day of the incident.

Accused Iran has been shown as a fugitive in the charge sheet. Besides, 16 people have been named in it as prosecution witnesses.

Accused Russel and Harun, who were arrested in the case earlier, are currently on bail.

Investigator Anisur mentioned in his report that he informed the complainant about the results of the probe.

The complainant, Nayeem's father Alam, however, said they have not been informed anything about the probe.