United Hospital Fire: HC Order on Compensation Stayed

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed till August 16 the High Court order that directed the United Hospital authorities to give Tk30 lakh as initial compensation to each of the families of 4 victims, out of the five, who were killed in a fire at its isolation unit on May 27.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the SC Justice Md Nuruzzaman passed the order following a petition filed by the hospital authorities seeking a stay on the HC orders in this regard.

Earlier on July 15, the High Court ordered the hospital authorities to compensate four families with Tk 30 lakh each after virtually hearing five separate writ petitions filed on behalf of the victims' families.

The court also directed the hospital authorities to pay the compensation within 15 days after receiving a copy of the HC order.

As one of the victim's (Monir Hossain) family settled the matter of compensation with the hospital authorities, the High Court did not issue any order in this regard.

On May 27, five people, including three confirmed COVID-19 patients, died in the fire, originated from one of the air-conditioners used in the coronavirus camp of the hospital.