HC orders compensation to families of United Hospital fire victims

The High Court has ordered the United Hospital to pay four families Tk 3 million each in 15 days as compensations for a fatal fire that killed five patients in May.

Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order on Wednesday, responding to three writ petitions from the families of the victims.

Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state, while lawyers Anik R Haque, Hasan MS Azim and Muntasir Ahmed stood for the writ petitioners in the court.

The United Hospital was represented by lawyers Rokanuddin Mahmud, Mostafizur Rahman Khan and Tanjib-ul Alam.

 “The court has asked about the progress of a settlement over compensation with the families of five patients. Of them, the family of Md Monir Hossain reached a deal of Tk 2 million with the hospital authority. The families of other victims could not reach an agreement with the hospital authority following the order issued by the court,” lawyer Mostafizur told bdnews24.com.

On Jun 29, the court issued an order for a settlement over compensation with the families of five patients by July 12 and set July 13 for the next hearing.

The fire burnt down a tent-like isolation unit for COVID-19 patients and killed five patients at the United Hospital in Dhaka on May 27.

The blaze quickly swept through the structure as the materials used for the construction and the hand sanitizers kept inside were inflammable, the police said.