HC asks Green Line and Russel to settle outside court

The High Court today advised Green Line Paribahan and Russel Sarker, who lost his leg after a bus of the company ran him over in April 2018, to settle the issue outside the court by providing compensation to Russel.

The court asked lawyers for Green Line and the writ petitioner, who sought compensation for Russel, to go forth with the settlement and inform the outcome before February 2.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order during hearing of the writ petition.

Earlier in the day, Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque, the lawyer for Green Line, sought a two-week adjournment of the hearing from the HC bench, saying his client had agreed to come to a compromise.

In April, 2018, Russel (26), a chauffeur working for a power company, and a Green Line bus driver locked into an altercation after the bus rear-ended his car. At one point, while Russel was chasing the bus, it ran him over.

Russel was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and was later transferred to Apollo Hospitals.

Advocate Umme Kulsum Smrity, on May 13, 2018, filed a writ petition with the HC, seeking necessary order to compensate Russel and stop reckless driving.

Following the petition, the HC issued a rule the next day, asking Green Line authorities and the government to explain why they should not pay Tk 1 crore compensation to Russel.

The HC on March 31 last year directed Green Line to pay Tk 50 lakh. But it has so far given Tk 13 lakh to Russel, Advocate Monjurul told The Daily Star yesterday.

Advocate Khandakar Shamsul Haque Reza appeared for the writ petitioner.