The High Court today ordered the authorities concerned to publish a list of the victims who were injured in last Thursday's deadly fire at a Narayanganj food processing factory and to ensure their proper treatment.
The court asked the attorney general to talk to the health and labour secretaries to take necessary steps to this effect.
The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order during hearing a writ petition filed by four rights organistions, seeking directives for compensation for the victims and for conducting an enquiry into the incident.
The HC bench, however, refused to pass any order over the compensation as bodies of the deceased victims could not be identified so far.
The court said the government authorities have reportedly assured that they will compensate the victims' families.
"We are also shocked at the incident of fire that caused deaths and injuries to a number of people. We have some limitations as we have no jurisdiction to issue any rule questioning the negligence and failure of the authorities in preventing the incident… As the bench has jurisdiction only to hear the urgent matter. Place the writ petition when regular court operation will resume after the ongoing lockdown. Then, we will give necessary order," Justice Enayetur Rahim said.
Lawyer ZI Khan Panna, Sara Hossain and Aneek R Haque appeared for the writ petitioners.
Earlier in the day, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) and Safety and Rights Society (SRS) submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC.
The rights organisations sought necessary directives on the authorities concerned to give Tk 1 crore as compensation to the families of each victim who died in the fire, and to give Tk 35 lakh to each injured victim.
They also prayed to the court for an order for conducting enquiry into the incident and to prosecute and punish those who are responsible for the incident.
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