Give Tk 20 lakh more to Russel in compensation

The High Court yesterday directed Green Line Paribahan to give Tk 20 lakh more in compensation to Russel Sarker, who lost his leg after a bus of the company ran him over in April 2018.

Green Line earlier gave Tk 13 lakh plus to Russel and will give Tk 20 lakh more in three months after receiving the HC verdict, the Paribahan's lawyer Shah Monjurul Hoque told The Daily Star.

He also said the company will not move any appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the HC verdict as the HC delivered the directive on agreement from the bus company.

Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar told this newspaper that the HC also asked the Green Line Paribahan to submit a report to this court through the SC registrar general's office in 15 days after complying with the directive of paying Tk 20 lakh to Russel.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the verdict after hearing a writ petition seeking its directive on Green Line Paribahan to give adequate compensation to Russel Sarker.

In April, 2018, Russel (26), a chauffeur working for a power company, and a Green Line bus driver locked into an altercation after the bus rear-ended his car. At one point, while Russel was chasing the bus, it ran him over.

SC lawyer Umme Kulsum Smrity, on May 13, 2018, filed a writ petition with the HC, seeking necessary order to give Russel compensation and stop reckless driving.

Following the petition, the HC issued a rule the next day, asking the Green Line authorities and the government to explain why they should not pay Tk 1 crore to Russel.

The HC on March 31 last year directed Green Line to pay Tk 50 lakh.

Later on, the HC bench held hearings and passed orders on several days on this issue.