N’ganj Mosque Blast: SC stays HC order on Titas to pay each victim Tk 5 lakh

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday extended its chamber judge's order that stayed a High Court directive which asked Titas Gas Ltd to give Tk 5 lakh as initial costs to each family of the victims, who died and suffered burns in the Narayanganj mosque blast.

The apex court, however, asked the HC to hold hearing on the rule it issued over giving the victim families Tk 50 lakh each and dispose of the matter expeditiously.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain came up with the order after hearing a petition filed by Titas Gas Ltd challenging the HC order.

Thirty-seven people so far died and several others sustained burns in the blast at Pashchim Talla Baitus Salam Mosque after Esha prayers at night on September 4. There was widespread allegation that the explosion was caused by gas leaked from underground pipeline and accumulated inside the ground floor of the mosque.

Following a writ petition filed by SC lawyer and a resident of Narayanganj Mar-um Khondaker, the HC on September 9 directed Titas to give Tk 5 lakh as initial costs in seven days to each victim family. The HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government and Titas Gas to explain why the Titas authorities should not be directed to give Tk 50 lakh to each victim family. Later on, Titas filed a petition with the Appellate Division, seeking a stay on the HC order.

On September 13, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division stayed the HC order till December 1.

The apex court judge also sent the stay petition to its full bench for hearing yesterday.