Gulam Rabbani :
Leaders of the transport owners and workers have decided to file an appeal petition before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the High Court judgement, delivered on a case regarding a road accident in 2011.
The High Court, on December 3, asked to pay the driver of the bus, some bus owners and the company, which insured the bus, Tk 4,61,75,452 as compensation. The transport leaders took the decision on Tuesday night at a meeting held at the Parliament’s office of the Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, who is also the Executive President of Bangladesh Labours Federation.
State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Md Mashiur Rahman Ranga was also present at the meeting and spoke on behalf of the owners and workers.
They decided to continue holding of meetings to secure support from the Ministries of Law, Labour, and Road Transport and Bridges as well as filing the appeal. They also took decision to hold separate meetings with initiatives by the central organizations of the owners and workers.
At least 30 leaders of different labour organizations, including General Secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association Khandaker Enayetullah, General Secretary of Bangladesh Labours’ Federation Osman Ali and President of Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners’ Association Faruq Talukder Sohel, were present at the meeting.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told the journalists after the meeting, “We have discussed to appeal against the High Court judgement. We will fight the matter legally. We discussed on its preparation.”
Earlier, owners and workers had created a deadlock in the transport sector after a driver was punished by a lower court.
Then the transport owners and workers also held a meeting at the residence of the Shipping Minister before creating the deadlock.
Now the transport owners-workers again held a meeting with the Shipping Minister after the judgement delivered to pay Tk 4,61,75,452 as compensation to the family members of eminent filmmaker Tareque Masud who was killed in a road accident in 2011.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association Khandaker Enayetullah said, “We held a formal meeting. We decided to file appeal petition against the judgement of the HC. We are not involving with any movement this time.”
On December 3, the High Court ordered the authorities concerned to pay Tk 4,61,75,452 as compensation to family members of eminent filmmaker Tareque Masud who was killed in a road accident in 2011.
Following the order, driver Jamir Uddin has to give Tk 30 lakh, the company, which insured the bus, has to give Tk 80,000 and owners of the vehicle has to give the rest of the money in three months after receiving the full judgement of the HC.
The HC bench of Justice Zinat Ara and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akond passed the order after hearing the case filed by the family members of Tareque.
Cannes award winning filmmaker Tareque Masud and former ATN news Chief Executive Officer Mishuk Munier along with three others died when a bus collided with the microbus they were in on the Dhaka-Aricha highway at Joka in Manikganj on August 13, 2011.
The families of Tareque and Mishuk on February 13, 2012 filed the two separate cases with District Judge and Motor Accident Claim Tribunal in Manikganj, seeking compensation for the death.
Co-owners of the ‘killer’ bus — Kashed Miah, Khokon Miah and Jahnagir Kabir (Tunin) — and the driver, Jamir Uddin, and the company, which insured the vehicle, were accused in the cases.
A Manikganj court sentenced Jamir Uddin to life imprisonment on February 22 this year.
Following the two separate writ petitions, the HC, on October 29, 2014, ruled that the HC, instead of the lower court, will now hold the trial of the two compensation cases.
Catherine Masud, wife of Tareque Masud, in her case sought compensation for the loss of care, protection, nursing and affection of Tareque Masud and his family members, loss of dependency suffered by the family members, losses of income, future advancement, estate, medical expenses of claimant, funeral expenses and damage of property (microbus).
