The High Court has directed the United Hospital authorities to give Tk30 lakh as initial compensation to each of the families of four victims, out of the five, who were killed in a fire at its isolation unit on May 27.
The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim came up with the directive on Wednesday after virtually hearing five separate writ petitions filed on behalf of the victims' families, seeking compensation from the hospital authorities.
The court also directed the hospital authorities to pay the compensation within 15 days after receiving the copy of the HC order.
Barrister Hasan MS Azim, Barrister Aneek R Haque, Barrister Muntasir Uddin Ahmed, Barrister Syed Redwan Hasan, Advocate Niaz Muhammad Mahboob, and Barrister Shahida Sultana Shila defended the writs while Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, Barrister Kazi Ershadul Alam and Barrister Mustafizur Rahman Khan stood for United Hospital. Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state.
Advocate Niaz Muhammad Mahboob told Dhaka Tribune, on June 29, the High Court ordered both parties to come to an amicable settlement regarding compensation by July 12.
The court also asked the police to complete the investigation of a case filed by a victim’s family.
Later, the hospital authorities sent letters to the victims’ families and according to the letter the families met with the hospital authorities.
The four families did not agree to the hospital's proposal about compensation, only the family of victim Monir Hossain agreed to the Tk20 lakh compensation proposal.
After the hearing the court asked United Hospital to give Tk30 lakh as compensation to each family of the four victims within 15 days, the lawyer added.
On June 15, a Fire Service and Civil Defence probe report submitted to the High Court said effective measures could have saved the lives of the patients who died in the fire at the Covid-19 unit of United Hospital on May 27.
The report also mentioned negligence on the part of the hospital authorities in preventing and controlling the fire.
