Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Thursday ordered the Green Line Paribahan authorities to pay Tk 20 lakh more within three months to Russel Sarker, who lost his left leg after a bus of the said paribahan hit him in the city’s Dolairpar area two years ago.
The Bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader delivered the verdict after disposing of a rule issued earlier in this regard.
The High Court took the decision of fixing the compensation amount on the basis of the consent of the both parties, said the concerned lawyers.
The court asked the transport company to pay the money in one install ment within three months and after receiving the High Court order and they have to inform it in written to the Supreme Court registrar general office within two weeks after complying with the order.
Russel Sarker has been asked to submit a bank statement in the Supreme Court registrar general office within one week after receiving the money.
Earlier, the Green Line Paribahan had paid a total of Tk 13 lakh to Russel in three installments. So finally he is getting a total of Tk 33 lakh following the High Court verdict.
In a reaction Russel Sarker said, “I will spend the money that the High Court has given me for the maintenance of my children.”
“Even if you pay one hundred crore taka, no one will be able to bring my leg. So I will urge drivers to drive cars with cautious,” added Mr Russel.
Advocate Khondaker Shamsul Hoque Reza took part in the hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner, while Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque appeared for the transport company and Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar represented the State.
After the verdict Green Line’s counsel Shah Monjurul Hoque said, “We will not file any appeal petition as we have agreed with the compensation fixed by the court. We agreed for humanitarian ground.”
Russel, 28, who was also a car driver of a power company, lost his leg below the knee after he was knocked down by the bus of Green Line near the Mayor Hanif Flyover in the capital’s Dholaipar area on April 28, 2018.
The bus driver had an altercation with him and ran over Russel as he chased down the bus.
Russel was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with a severed leg, and transferred to Square Hospitals and later to Apollo Hospitals.
He had to amputate one of his legs at one stage while undergoing treatment at the hospital. The condition of his other leg is also not good.
Later a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking compensation for Russel Sarker. After primary hearing on the petition the court issued a rule over compensation.
Later on March 12, the High Court directed Green Line Paribahan to pay Tk 50 lakh to Russel in two weeks as compensation and for his treatment purposes.
The transport company paid Russel a total of Tk 13 lakh in three installments following the court order. Later the Appellate Division stayed the High Court order and asked the parties to take initiatives for disposing of the rule in the High Court.
Then the High Court started the hearing on the rule and concluded it on March 5 this year and fixed April 15 for delivering the verdict. But the dated deferred due to the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
