Why shouldn't family be compensated

The High Court yesterday ordered the government to explain why it should not be directed to compensate the family of five-year-old Nirob Hossain Ismail who died after falling into a sewer in the capital's Shyampur a week ago.

Responding to a writ petition by a rights organisation, it also asked the thana nirbahi officer and the assistant commissioner of land to find out whom the sewer belongs to.

The officer-in-charge of Kadamtali Police Station has to inform the court in three months about actions taken against those responsible for the incident, according to the HC order.

Children's Charity Bangladesh Foundation filed the petition on Sunday seeking directives on the government to pay Nirob's family Tk 30 lakh in compensation.

Upon hearing the petition, Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque  Akondo asked Dhaka Wasa and Dhaka South and North city corporations to list pipes, wells, tube-wells, sewerage pipes, holes and water tanks left uncovered or unsafe in the capital and submit the list to the court in three months.

The court also demanded explanations from the authorities as to why they should not be ordered to make those pipes, wells, tube-wells, and so on safe, petitioner's counsel Abdul Halim told The Daily Star.

Following a similar petition filed by the rights organisation, the HC in February issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to give Tk 30 lakh in compensation to the family of four-year-old Jihad, who died after falling down a 300-foot well shaft in the capital's Shahjahanpur Railway Colony on December 26 last year.

The rule is still pending with the HC.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday placed Shahriar Ahmed Shukkur, 40, who is responsible for maintenance of the sewer in Shyampur, on a two-day remand.

The order came after police produced him before the court seeking seven days' remand.

Shukkur was nabbed due to negligence in his job that caused Nirob's death, said Kadomtoli police Officer-in-Charge Kazi Wazed Ali.

Inspector Saiful Islam filed a case on Sunday, accusing Shukkur and some unnamed persons.