Why should victims not get financial aid

The High Court yesterday asked the government to explain in four weeks why victims of arson at Kalshi Bihari camp in Mirpur last year should not be provided with financial aid.

The HC came up with the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by two Urdu speaking people of the camp seeking its order on the government to give adequate financial assistance to the victims.

Home secretary, cabinet secretary, senior secretary to the prime minister's office, inspector general of police, deputy commissioner of Dhaka, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, deputy commissioner of police of Mirpur Zone, joint commissioner of Detective Branch and officer-in-charge of Pallabi Police Station have been made respondents to the rule.     

Md Sadakat Khan and Sayeed Ali Bablu recently filed the petition saying nine people of a family were burnt alive and many others were injured when miscreants set fire to several houses at the camp in Dhaka on June 14.

Another person was killed in police firing during clashes with people of the camp over fire cracker explosion, they said in the petition, adding that the victims did not get any financial help from the government.

The petitioners said a case was filed in connection with the murder incident on June 15 last year with Pallabi Police Station, but there has been no significant progress in the investigation into the incident.

They prayed to the court to direct the authorities concerned of the government to submit the progress report on the investigation of the case.