UNB, Dhaka :
The High Court on Monday issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to provide compensation to the family members of the victims in the Bailey Road building fire.
The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Atabullah issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by rights organisation Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Ain o Salish Kendro.
The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to build fire exits, staircases and extinguishing rooms in the multipurpose buildings, factories and establishments and why it should not be inserted in the Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Act and National Building Code Act.
It issued another rule asking the government to explain as to why running of commercial organizations in the residential areas should not be declared illegal.
The HC asked the Rajuk and Fire Service authorities to inform the court about how many fire incidents occurred in the multipurpose buildings and loss of lives and damages in 2023-24 year.
Barrister Sara Hossain and Barrister Anik R Haque stood for the petitioners.
On Sunday, BLAST and Ain o Salish Kendro and a Supreme Court lawyer, Najmus Sakib, also the brother of Tanjina Nawrin, who died in the Bailey Road inferno, filed the writ petition.
Secretary of the Home Ministry, Inspector General of Police, Rajuk Chairman, mayors of Dhaka South and North city corporations were made respondents to the writ petition.
On Thursday night, a massive fire broke out at a building on Dhaka’s Bailey Road leaving at least 46 people dead and injuring dozens of people. Later, a case was filed with Ramna police station.
So far, 44 bodies have been handed over to their families while two remain at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital morgue.
The DNA samples of the two bodies were collected.
Besides, 11 people among 14, who were undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (SHNIBPS) after the fire, have been discharged. Three of them are still undergoing treatment there.
Two more injured victims are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
