United Hospital fire: HC awards victim's families 30L each

The High Court on Monday ordered the authorities of United Hospital to pay Tk30 lakh to each of the families of four out of five victims of the fire at the hospital, which took place on May 27 last year.

The hospital authorities must pay the compensation within 15 days. The family of fifth victim, Monir Hossain, were not awarded any compensation by the court as they have settled the matter through out-of-court negotiations with the hospital authorities.

The High Court bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order after hearing a writ petition. The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain why directives should not be given to the authorities concerned to provide Tk15 crore to the families of the victims as compensation.

Barrister Anik R Haque and Advocate Niaz Mohammad Mahbub stood for the petitioner while Barrister Mostafizur Rahman Khan represented United Hospital.

Also Read- 5 Covid-19 patients die in United Hospital fire

On July 14 last year, the High Court directed the hospital authorities to pay the four victims Tk30 lakh as compensation.On July 21, Chamber Judge Justice Md Nuruzzaman stayed the High Court order.

The Appellate Division on August 20, 2020, extended the stay order on the High Court directive that had ordered to pay Tk30 lakh to each of the families of four out of five victims killed in a fire at United Hospital in the capital on May 27.

A six-member bench, led by the Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order after hearing an appeal filed by the hospital authorities.

On May 27 last year, a fire broke out at the coronavirus isolation unit of the United Hospital, killing four men and one woman.

A case was filed against the hospital authorities with Gulshan police station on charges of death by negligence.