Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Md Solaiman Tushar issued a legal notice seeking Tk5 crore compensation for each victim of the Bailey Road fire incident. The notice, sent via mail on Sunday, targets Secretaries to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence, chairman of Rajuk, and Dhaka district commissioner.
Recipients of the notice are instructed to respond within five days regarding the measures taken to address the issues highlighted. Failure to do so may result in legal actions, including filing a writ in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, as outlined in the notice.
The notice emphasizes media coverage of the fire incident and reveals that the building where the fire erupted lacked authorization to operate a restaurant and was devoid of a fire safety system. Despite three warning notices issued to building authorities, no effective action was taken, and the building was not declared abandoned. Consequently, the authorities are held responsible for neglecting their duties.
Citing Article 32 and Article 36 of the Constitution, which guarantee the right to life, personal liberty, and freedom of movement, the notice asserts that the incident occurred due to the authorities' failure to take appropriate measures. It demands the formation of a judicial commission to ascertain accountability for the fire incident and seeks Tk5 crore compensation for each victim and injured individual affected by the tragedy.
The Bailey Road fire resulted in the loss of at least 46 lives, with over 20 individuals sustaining severe injuries. Firefighters rescued 70 people, including 42 found unconscious, from various floors of the seven-storey Green Cozy Cottage. Police filed a case on Friday night in response to the incident.
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