The High Court yesterday upheld its earlier order that directed Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan to immediately pay Tk 5 lakh to each of the families of two students who were killed in the road crash on Airport Road in Dhaka on July 29.

Abdul Karim Rajib, 18, and Dia Khanam Mim, 17, both students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College, were run over and killed by a bus of the transport company on July 29, while nine others were injured. Following a writ petition, the HC on July 30 ordered Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan to immediately pay Tk 5 lakh to each of the families of Rajib and Dia in seven days to meet their instant necessities, and to bear the expenses for treatment of the others.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam yesterday rejected the time prayer and asked the company to pay the money to the victims' families without delay.

The lawyer sought time from the HC saying that Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan's owner is now in Saudi Arabia for performing hajj, and the company will pay the money after its owner returns to the country.

Also on July 30, the HC had issued a rule asking authorities concerned to explain why a directive should not be issued on the owner of Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan to give Tk 2 crore as compensation to each of the families of the two students who were killed.

The bench also fixed October 7 for passing further order on this issue.

Replying to a question, writ petitioner Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal said he does not know whether Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan is bearing the expenses for treatment of the injured.