The High Court has issued a rule asking why Supreme Court lawyer Md Bahauddin Al Imran should not be awarded Tk50 lakh in compensation for injuries he sustained in a Saint Martin Paribahan road accident on the Chittagong-Dhaka Highway.
The court also directed the chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Board of Trustees to dispose of Imran's compensation application within 30 days.
In addition, the court issued a rule asking why the route permit and licence of the Saint Martin Paribahan bus involved in the accident (Dhaka Metro B-12-2881) should not be cancelled.
The rule also sought an explanation as to why transport operators should not be directed to comply with prescribed traffic rules, display vehicle fitness certificates prominently and introduce QR codes for verification.
The court further asked why the authorities should not be directed to form rapid response teams comprising police and fire service personnel in accident-prone areas, install 360-degree cameras inside and outside passenger buses to deter reckless driving, and stop the operation of buses converted from single-chassis vehicles.
The order was passed by a High Court bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar on Sunday after a preliminary hearing of the writ petition.
Barrister Sanjid Siddiqui represented the petitioner.
The writ was filed in May by Md Bahauddin Al Imran, who was injured in the accident.
It attached a report published by Bangladesh Pratidin on October 22, 2025, under the headline Aramer Arale Maranphand.
According to the petition, the Dhaka-bound St Martin Paribahan bus, owned by Ifad Motors, left Chittagong on September 19, 2025, and overturned after making a 180-degree turn in the Basantapur area under Chauddagram's Mia Bazar Police Station in Comilla at around 2:05am.
The petition alleged that the driver and his assistant fled the scene after the crash. The bus was left without power, and passengers were rescued with the assistance of police and locals.
Imran sustained multiple injuries, including fractures to five ribs on the left side of his chest, and required prolonged medical treatment and rest, causing him financial loss, according to the petition.
The petitioner said a legal notice was served on the authorities seeking compensation and other remedial measures, but no response was received.
He then filed the writ seeking compensation as well as a series of directives in the public interest aimed at improving road safety.