Green Line to pay Russell Tk20 lakh more

The High Court (HC) Thursday ordered Green Line Paribahan to pay Tk20 lakh more as compensation to Russell Sarkar -- a driver who lost his leg after being hit by one of the transport company's buses in Dhaka in 2018.

The bus company was told to pay the entire amount within the next three months, and to notify the Supreme Court Registrar General office within 15 days of the payment.  

The bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order. Lawyers of both parties said the amount of compensation was fixed by mutual agreement between the writ petitioner and the bus company.       

Earlier, the bus company had paid a total of Tk13.28 lakh to Russell in three instalments. With the latest High Court ruling, the total amount is set to increase to Tk33.28 lakh.

Lawyer Advocate Shah Manjurul Haque, who represented the bus company to the court, said his client would not appeal against the amount as it was fixed by mutual consent.

Shah Manjurul said the Green Line authorities have agreed to the compensation and they will pay the victim as soon as possible. 

Meantime, Russell Sarkar in an immediate reaction said he was satisfied with the ruling and it would be easier to support his family if the payment is disbursed quickly.  

Russell lost his left leg after a Green Line bus ran over him on the Mayor Hanif Flyover in the capital on April 28, 2018.

Supreme Court lawyer Umme Kulsum Smrity on May 13, 2018, filed a writ petition with the HC seeking necessary orders to compensate Russell and stop reckless driving.

Subsequently, the HC issued a rule the next day, asking Green Line authorities and the government to explain why they should not pay Tk1 crore compensation to the victim.

Following the petition, in March last year, the court ordered the bus company to pay Tk50 lakh and bear all costs of medical treatment. At that time, the company paid a total of Tk13.28 lakh and moved to the Appellate Division to challenge the HC order.     

Green Line did not continue the payments as the Appellate Division had stayed the order. On Thursday, the HC delivered the final verdict on the writ.