The High Court on Wednesday directed Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company to provide Tk 5 lakh compensation each to the families of 37 burn victims for now.
Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) will hand over the money to the victims’ families within seven days.
The High Court bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order after hearing a writ petition in this regard.
A resident of Narayanganj and Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Mar-e-am Khandakar filed the writ on Monday.
The court also issued a rule asking authorities concerned to explain why they should not be directed to pay Tk 50 lakh compensation each to the 37 families.
Power, energy and mineral resources secretary, home secretary, Narayanganj mayor, Titas Gas managing director, RAJUK, DPDC, Narayanganj DC, SP and mosque committee members were asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.
At least 37 people suffered severe burn injuries in an explosion at Pashchim Talla Baitus Salah Mosque in Narayanganj after Esha prayers around 8.45 pm on Friday (September 4).
A total of 28 of the burn victims died till Wednesday while eight others, who are in critical condition, are now undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, On September 7, Titas Gas has suspended four of its officials and 4 staff members for negligence of duty.
It has been widely reported that some Titas officials were informed about a leakage of the gas pipeline lying underneath the mosque but took no action to repair it.
