The Appellate Division has upheld a High Court ruling awarding Tk30 lakh in compensation to Nayeem Hasan Nahid, a 13-year-old from Ashuganj upazila in Brahmanbaria, who lost his hand in a workshop accident three years ago.
The order was issued by a bench of the Appellate Division led by Senior Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam on Tuesday. Barrister Omar Farooq represented the victim in court.
Earlier, on January 31, the High Court directed that a fixed deposit of Tk30 lakh be made in Nayeem’s name. According to the order Tk15 lakh was to be deposited by April 2023. The remaining Tk15 lakh was to be deposited by December 2023.
Besides, Nayeem will be allowed to withdraw the deposit in 10 instalments. Additionally, the court mandated a monthly payment of Tk7,000 to support Nayeem's education until he completes his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).
The responsibility to implement the compensation order was placed on the owner of Noor Engineering Workshop in Bhairab.
The verdict was delivered by a High Court bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zeenat Haque after resolving the rule issued in connection with the writ petition.
The incident occurred on September 28, 2020, at Noor Engineering Workshop in Bhairab. Nayeem, then 10 years old and a fourth-grade student, was compelled to work to support his family after his father, a shoe trader, lost his income during the Covid-19 pandemic.
While operating machinery at the workshop, Nayeem’s right arm became trapped, leading to a surgical amputation at the elbow.
The story garnered national attention following a report titled "Terrible consequences of child labour in Bhairab" published on November 1, 2020.
In response to the report, Nayeem’s father filed a writ petition in the High Court in December 2020, demanding Tk2 crore in compensation.
The High Court issued a rule on December 27, 2020, asking why Tk2 crore should not be paid as compensation. The deputy commissioner of Kishoreganj was instructed to investigate the incident.
Following the investigation and hearings, the High Court issued its verdict in January 2023, which was subsequently appealed. The Appellate Division's recent ruling upholds that judgment.
The case was handled pro bono for Nayeem by Barrister Aneek R Haque and Advocate Md Bakir Uddin Bhuiyan. Advocate Tamjid Hasan assisted in the proceedings.
On the other side, Advocate Kamrul Islam and Advocate Abdul Barek represented the workshop owner. Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta appeared for the state.
This landmark ruling underscores the dangers of child labour and highlights the judiciary's role in ensuring justice for vulnerable groups.
