HC orders owner to pay Tk30 lakh to child who lost arm at workshop

The High Court has issued a directive to pay Tk30 lakh in compensation to a child who lost his hand while working at a workshop in Kishoreganj's Bhairab upazila.

Nayeem Hasan Nahid, from Brahmanbaria's Ashuganj, was 10-year-old and a fourth grader when his right hand got trapped in the machine on 28 September 2020, ultimately leading to amputation. 

The High Court on Wednesday instructed the workshop owner, Yakub Hossain, to deposit Tk15 lakh by April this year and Tk15 lakh by December.

After 10 years, Nayeem will be able to withdraw the deposited money. At the same time, the owner has been directed to pay Tk7,000 per month until the child passes the Higher Secondary Certificate exam.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zeenat Haque issued the order after hearing the writ petition filed by the child's father Anwar Hossain in December 2020, seeking compensation.

Previously on 1 November 2020, a report was published in Prothom Alo under the title "Terrible consequences of child labour in Bhairab."

According to the report, Nayeem's father, a shoe vendor, became jobless during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this situation, the parents send the boy to the workshop in Bhairab, Kishoreganj.

The father filed the petition attaching the news report.

Barrister Aneek R Haque and advocate Md Bakir Uddin Bhuiyan fought for the child as a pro bono case.

Advocate Kamrul Islam represented the workshop owner and Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta represented the state.