Staff Reporter :
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday directed the owner of the Swajan Paribahan to pay Tk 10 lakh within one month to the family members of Rajib Hossain, a Titumir College student, who lost his right hand in a bus accident and later succumbed to his injuries in April 2018.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Swajan Paribahan challenging a HC verdict.
The High Court on June 20, 2019, ordered two bus companies, BRTC and Swajan Paribahan, to pay Tk 50 lakh as compensation to the family of Rajib Hossain.
The court asked the state-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and owners of Swajan Paribahan to pay Tk 25 lakh each to Rajib’s two brothers within the next two months.
The HC Bench of Justice J B M Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam delivered the verdict after hearing a rule seeking a compensation for the victim’s family.
Later, Swajan Paribahan filed a petition with the Appellate Division seeking stay on the High Court judgement.
After hearing the primary submission from the Swajan Paribahan’s lawyer, Advocate Shafiqul Islam Babul, the Appellate Division on Sunday said, “Pay Tk Tk 10 lakh within a month to Rajib’s family. Then we will hear your submission.”
Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, who appeared in the court on behalf of Rajib’s family, said, “The court fixed November 17, 2019, for further hearing on the matter.”
After two weeks in coma, Rajib Hossain, a third-year student of Government Titumir College, died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on April 17, 2018.
Rajib lost the hand after it got stuck between two speeding buses of BRTC and Swajan Paribahan, which were trying to overtake each other on April 3.
Profusely bleeding, Rajib was taken to Samorita Hospital at Panthapath. He was kept in the post- operative intensive care unit (ICU) on the day of the accident.
After publishing the photograph of Rajib’s hanging hand on April 4, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, a Supreme Court lawyer, the same day, filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking necessary order for the treatment of Rajib and ensuring free movement of people.
After hearing, the High Court Bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice A K M Zahirul Hoque directed the owners of two buses to bear all the treatment cost of Titumir College student Rajib Hossain.
After Rajib’s death, Barrister Kazal filed a supplementary petition with the court demanding compensation for his family members.
