Writ seeks compensation for launch fire victim families

Staff Reporter :
A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking its directive upon the respondents to take necessary steps for giving compensation amounting to Tk five million to each of the families of the passengers who died in the devastating inferno that broke out in the MV Abhijan-10 launch and Tk two million to the injured passengers of the incident.
Md Eunus Ali Akond, a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the petition with the High Court on Sunday as a public interest litigation.
The petition also sought a rule upon the respondents to explain as to why they should not be directed to take necessary steps for giving compensation amounting to Tk five million to each of the families of the passengers who died in the devastating inferno that broke out in the MV Abhijan-10 launch and Tk two million to the injured passengers of the incident.
It also prayed to the High Court to issue rule as to why the respondents should not be directed to constitute a judicial commission for the inquiry into the devastating inferno that broke out in the MV Abhijan-10 launch that killed a total of 41 passengers till now.

It also prayed to the court to issue a rule as to why the respondents should not be directed to take necessary steps for stern action against the persons responsible for the incident.
Pending hearing of the rule the petitioners also prayed to the court to direct the respondents to give compensation of Tk one million to each of the families of the passengers who died in the devastating fire and Tk 0.5 million to the injured passengers of the incident.
Shipping Secretary, Chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Hanjalal Sheikh, Proprietor of MV Ovijan-10 launch, have been made respondents in the writ petition.
At least 41 passengers were killed in a major fire that ripped through the launch carrying some 500 passengers from Dhaka to Barguna in the dead of Friday night while crossing the Sugandha River in Jhalakathi.
At least 100 people were injured in the fire and a total of 68 people are missing. Officials said many of those missing could be among the dead who have not yet been identified.