Ensure compensation in Rajib case

We are deeply saddened to hear that Rajib Hossain, the student who lost his arm to a race between two buses in the Karwan Bazar area in the capital, passed away in the early hours of Tuesday at Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he was on life support. Rajib was a guardian to his two younger brothers as both their parents had died years ago. We would like to extend our condolences to the family as they grapple with the unspeakable tragedy.

The High Court had earlier ordered the owners of the two buses—BRTC and Swajan Paribahan—to bear Rajib's treatment cost and issued a rule earlier this month asking the government and bus owners to explain in four weeks' time why they shouldn't be directed to pay compensation of Tk 1 crore to Rajib. Now that Rajib has succumbed to his injuries, the case for compensation has only gotten stronger. The precedent has already been set by the landmark verdict in the Tareque Masud case where the High Court ordered the bus owners, bus driver and insurance company to pay Tk 4.61 crore in compensation.

Bus owners and bus drivers involved in Rajib's case too should be made to compensate Rajib's family. Rajib's two younger brothers depended on him for financial support for their education. Although not many are aware of it, the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1983 allows victims' families to seek compensation, and cases can be filed with the district Motor Vehicles Accident Claim Tribunal. Filing such cases is an exception in the country despite the high number of road accidents that have cost way too many lives. But this trend ought to be reversed. We hope the authorities will extend all legal support to Rajib's family and leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice for his untimely death, which includes severe punishment for the bus drivers.