SC asks for giving Tk 1mln to accident victim Rajib family

Dhaka, Oct 13 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Sunday directed the owner of Sajan Paribahan to give Tk 10 lakh in a month to the brothers of Rajib Hossain, a college student who was killed in a road accident in the city last year after his right arm got stuck between two buses and got severed.After disposing of an appeal filed by Sajan Paribahan authority against the HC order, the four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order.
The HC had on June 20 asked two bus companies — Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) and Sajan Paribahan — to pay in two months Tk 25 lakh each to Rajib’s brothers Mehedi Hasan Bappi, 16, and Abdulla Hridoy, 15.
Rajib, who was a 3rd year student of Government Titumir College, lost his right arm after he was trapped between two buses in the city’s Banglamotor area on April 4 last year. He succumbed to his injuries on April 17 that year.
Advocate Shafiqul Islam Babul stood for the transport company while Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajal argued for Rajib’s family.
The apex court said ‘Sajan Paribahan’ will have to pay Tk 10 lakh in damages to the victim’s family and then it will take into consideration their appeal.
It also said it will take into consideration the matter of compensation to be provided by Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BTRC).
Babul said the High Court has already released the copy of its verdict and they will file a leave-to-appeal petition challenging the order.
On June 20 last, the High Court ordered two bus companies to give Tk 50 lakh in damages to the family of Rajib within two months.
The owners of ‘Sajan Paribahan’ were asked to pay Tk 25 lakh while the BTRC the remaining amount, the court said.
On April 4 last year, the court sought explanations from the authorities concerned on why directives should not be issued to provide Tk 1 crore as compensation to Rajib.
The High Court on May 8 of the same year ordered owners of ‘Sajan Paribahan’ and BRTC to pay Tk 50 lakh each (Tk 1 crore in total) to Rajib’s family.
But the order was stayed by the Appellate Division on May 22. The apex court directed the High Court to form an independent committee to fix the compensation and find out who is responsible for the accident.
On May 30, 2018, the High Court formed a three-member committee to identify those responsible for the accident and fix compensation. – Staff Reporter