The High Court (HC) has directed the authorities concerned to immediately give Tk 5 lakh as a cost for treatment to schoolboy Tamim Iqbal who lost his limbs after getting electrocuted for the alleged negligence of Palli Bidyut Samity officials.
The higher court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why they should not be directed to give Tk 10 crore to Tamim Iqbal, 12, of Ramgati in Laxmipur as compensation.
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman issued the order and rule on Monday (December 6) following a writ petition filed by the child’s father.
Energy and Resources Division Secretary, Chairman of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (REB), general manager of Laxmipur Pally Bidyut Samity and other officials concerned were made respondents to the rule.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua and Advocate Fuad Hasan stood for the writ petitioner before the court, while Deputy Attorney General Bipul Baghmar represented the state.
Tamim, son of day laborer Shahadat Hossain of Char Tobgi village in Char Algi union of Ramgati upazila and a fifth-grader at the local Katabnia Government Primary School, was critically injured and lost his left hand in electrocution in September this year.
According to the case statement, a power-supply pole was uprooted following the erosion of Meghna riverbank in Char Tobgi village of Ramgati upazila on September 23. The high voltage power lines were left lying on the ground following the incident.
The authorities of Palli Bidyut Samity didn’t bother to take any action in spite of repeated calls from the villagers. On September 25, Tamim came in contact with the power supply line as he went to the river to take a bath and was severely injured.
He was taken to Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, where the doctors had to amputate his left hand, two toes of his right leg. He got serious injuries on his head. He is still under treatment at the hospital.
