SC stays order to compensate United Hospital fire victim families

The chamber judge of the Appellate Division on Tuesday stayed till 16 August a High Court order that had directed the United Hospital authorities to pay Tk 3 million to the families of four victims each, who were killed in a devastating fire on the hospital premises on 27 May.

Justice Md Nuruzzaman passed the order after holding a hearing on a plea filed by the hospital authorities, reports news agency BSS.

Barrister Rokon Uddin Mahmud and barrister Mostafizur Rahman Khan moved the plea for the hospital, while barrister Hasan MS Azim, barrister Muntasir Uddin Ahmed, barrister Anik R Haque and advocate Niaz Mohammad Mahboob argued for the writ filed for compensating the victim families.

On 15 July, the High Court had ordered the United Hospital authorities to give Tk 3 million to each of families of four victims, who were killed in a devastating fire that engulfed the hospital’s makeshift unit for treating coronavirus infected patients on 27 May, within 15 days.

Five people -- Vernon Anthony Paul, Riyajul Alam, Khodeja Begum, Md Monir Hossain and Md Mahbub -- were burnt to death in the fire.

Of the five, the family of Md Monir Hossain had reached an amicable settlement with the hospital and took Tk 2 million as compensation, making the High Court to leave it out in its order.