Six WASA, DSCC officials, contractor face case over man's death in uncovered culvert

The High Court has ordered the police to start a case against seven people, including Dhaka WASA executive engineer, over the death of a person after falling into an uncovered culvert in Paltan.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah ordered the Paltan Police Station OC on Sunday to file the case on charges of negligence of duty. 

Besides Water and Sewerage Authority Executive Engineer Atiqur Rahman, Sub-Divisional Engineer Sayeed Shahriar Hossain and Sub-Assistant Engineer Mohammad Jashim, Dhaka South City Corporation Work Assistant Rustum Ali, Sub-Assistant Engineer Mesbah Uddin Rasel, and Assistant Engineer Saiful Islam will be accused in the case.

Mohammad Hossain, the owner of the contracting firm Ruby Enterprise that was awarded the repair work of the culvert, will also face the charges.

The High Court also ordered to take departmental action against Paltan Police Station Inspector Rafiqul Islam and Sub-Inspector Mohibur Rahman for providing wrong information in the First Information Report (FIR) over the death of Sanu Mia, 55.

Sanu Mia fell into the uncovered culvert on Mar 6 evening. Fire Service crews pulled him out after around half an hour. He was declared dead at the hospital.

On the following day, the High Court issued four separate rules on the matter asking why the WASA and DSCC officials would not be held liable for the death due to negligence, punished of neglecting duty and criminal proceedings will not be initiated against them.

The local government secretary, Dhaka metro police chief, WASA chief, CEO, chief engineer (drainage) and chief waste management officer of DSCC and the Paltan police OC were made respondents of the rules.

Deputy Attorney General Taposh Kumar Biswas, who stood for the State, told bdnews24.com that the court on Sunday also asked what steps were taken to compensate the family of the deceased person.