The High Court today fixed October 21 for delivering verdict on a writ petition that sought a directive for giving Tk 20 crore compensation to 20 people who lost their eyesight following surgery at a health centre in Chuadanga in March this year.

The bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader fixed the date after holding hearing for around two weeks on the rule issued earlier in this regard.

Twenty persons lost their eyesight following surgeries at the Impact Masudul Haque Memorial Community Health Centre (IMHMCHC) in Chuadanga on March 5 as the authorities did not adopt appropriate safety measures, according to a report published on Bangla daily Samakal on March 29.

Following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Amit Das Gupta, the HC on April 1 issued a rule asking the director and a physician of IMHMCHC in Chuadanga to explain why they should not be directed to give Tk 20 crore in compensation to the 20 people who lost their eyesight.

Director of IMHMCHC Hasib Mahmud and its physician Mohammad Shahin, who reportedly conducted the eye surgery to the 20 poor people, have been asked to give the explanation.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned of the government and IMHMCHC to show cause as to why inaction of Hasib and Shahin in adopting proper safety measures while conducting the eye operations of the 20 people should not be declared illegal.

The court in the rule also asked the authorities to come up with an answer why legal action should not be taken against Hasib and Shahin for their reported misdeed and negligence in conducting eye operations during a three-day camp.

Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam appeared for IMHMCHC, while Advocate SM Rezaul Karim argued for the Irish company which supplied the drugs for the eye operation and Advocate Amit Das Gupta himself moved the writ petition.