Narayanganj mosque blast
SC stays Titas Gas compensation for victims' families
FE REPORT | Monday, 14 September 2020
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday stayed a High Court order asking Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited to pay on an emergency basis Tk0.5 million each as compensation to the families of the 37 victims of the deadly blasts at a mosque in Narayanganj's Fatullah.
Chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Nuruzzaman passed the order after holding virtual hearing on two separate appeal petitions filed by the state and the Titas Gas against the High Court order.
The court at the same time sent the appeal petitions to the full bench of the Appellate Division and fixed December 1 for detailed hearing.
The High Court on September 9 this year ordered the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited to pay on an emergency basis Tk0.5 million each as compensation to the families of the 37 victims of the deadly blasts at a mosque in Narayanganj's Fatullah.
It also asked the gas distribution agency to make the payments in seven days after receiving the order and asked the deputy commissioner of Narayanganj to distribute the funds among the families.
The High Court bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Barrister Mar-e-um Khondaker, a Supreme Court lawyer, seeking compensation for the victims' families.
The court also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain as to why they should not be directed to pay Tk 5.0 million each to the families of the 37 victims of the blasts.
Thirteen respondents including power, secretary, housing and public works secretaries, Titas Gas and RAJUK chairmen, DG of Fire Service, DC and SP of Narayanganj, Dhaka Power Distribution Company, Dhaka Electric Supply Company and the committee of Baytus Salat Jame Mosque of Narayanganj have been asked to comply with the rule within four weeks.
Advocate Taimur Alam Khondaker took part in the hearing on behalf of the petitioner while Advocate AM Amin Uddin appeared for the Titas Gas and Additional Attorney General Murad Reza represented the state.