The High Court has said that the massive fire incident at the Hashem Foods Ltd at Rupganj in Narayanganj that claimed at least 52 lives is really tragic.
“We are deeply shocked at the loss of a number of workers’ lives. This fire incident is really tragic. We are observing the incident,” said the virtual HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim.
The HC bench made the observation on Sunday (July 11) after a lawyer brought to the notice of the court the reports on the devastating fire incident published in various newspapers and following a writ petition filed by four human rights organisations.
Advocate Badruddoza Babu brought to the notice of the court, while four human rights organisations filed the writ petition as a public interest litigation. The four organisations are- Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), and Safety and Rights Society (SRS).
The writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking compensation of Tk 1 crore for each of 52 workers, who were killed at the fire, and TK 35 lakh for each of the injured, said Advocate Md Shahinuzzaman Shahin.
Responding to the writ petition and lawyer who brought to the notice, the HC bench said, “Like the people across the country, we are also concerned about the loss of 52 lives. A case has already been filed in this connection and some of the accused have been arrested. The government has also provided some grants. So, we are right now not ordering for any compensation. Let the bodies be identified first. Then you can file the application for compensation. The doors of the court are always open.”
At that time, the court asked the authorities concerned to release the list of the injured to ensure their proper treatment.
The four human rights organisations in their petition also sought High Court’s directive for immediate payment of Tk 10 lakh to the families of each deceased and Tk 5 lakh to the injured as interim compensation. They also prayed to the higher court for an order for conducting enquiry into the incident and to prosecute and punish those who are responsible for the incident.
A rule has also been sought as to why the failure and negligence of the people involved in the fire should not be declared illegal and why action should not be taken against them in accordance with the law to ensure justice and punishment through effective investigation.
The massive fire broke out in the factory in Rupganj, an industrial town 25-km east of capital Dhaka. Three people died after jumping from the roof during the fire and 49 bodies were recovered from the factory.
Police arrested factory owner Md Abul Hashem, his four sons and three others and have received a remand to interrogate them.
