Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Sunday issued a rule upon the government, asking it to explain as to why the family of Jihad, the four-year-old boy, who met with tragic end of life, would not get a compensation of Taka 30 lakh.
Jihad died on December 27 last year after falling into an unprotected pipe hole dug by railway authorities at Shahjahanpur in the capital.
Hearing a writ petition filed by Children’s Charity Bangladesh Foundation (CCBF), the HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Mohammad Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the ruling.
The CCBF submitted the petition on December 28 last year, seeking the court’s order for a compensation of Taka 30 lakh for the family of Jihad.
The HC bench also asked the government to explain in four weeks why the negligence of the government, WASA, railway, fire service and Dhaka City Corporation in rescuing Jihad should not be declared illegal.
Moreover, the court directed the authorities of fire service, railway and WASA The HC bench also asked the government to explain in four weeks why the negligence of the government, WASA, railway, fire service and Dhaka City Corporation in rescuing Jihad should not be declared illegal.
Moreover, the court directed the authorities of fire service, railway and WASA to submit a list of unprotected pipes, manholes, wells, tube-wells and water tanks across the country by May 15.
In the rule, the court wanted to know from the concerned authorities about the quantity of equipments purchased during the last two years. It also wanted to know how many people were imparted training by the fire service and civil defence authorities during the period to instantly rescue the people if they fall into the holes.
Barrister Abdul Halim appeared for Jihad during the hearing. Ten persons were made respondents in the rule.
Jihad died after falling into an unprotected pipe while he was playing at the Shahjahanpur colony ground last year. Despite attempts of several hours, the rescuers of fire service were unable to pull him out of the hole. Later, some local people recovered his body.
