A legal notice has been served to the Barendra Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) and relevant local authorities following the tragic death of two-year-old Sajid, who fell into an abandoned and unprotected tube well at Koelhat village of Tanore upazila in Rajshahi.
The notice, sent by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Md Monirul Islam Mia on Sunday, December 14, demands Tk 5 crore in compensation for the child’s family and urgent action to secure or permanently close all unprotected tube wells.
It states that hundreds of abandoned and unsafe tube wells in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, and Naogaon districts pose severe risks to the public. The recent incident in Koelhat village Purba Para village in the upazila, which led to Sajid’s death, reflects clear negligence by the responsible authorities.
Citing Articles 31 and 32 of the Constitution, the notice alleges violations of the right to life and personal liberty and demands that within 15 days all abandoned tube wells be surveyed and secured, unsafe wells sealed or closed at state expense, those involved in illegal construction be prosecuted, standard safety procedures established, unauthorised installations prevented through strict monitoring, and negligent officials disciplined.
The notice also warns that if the demands are not met within the given timeframe, the matter will be filed as a public interest litigation in the High Court Division.
National media have widely reported the incident, highlighting the risks posed by unprotected tube wells in the Barendra region and referring to them as “death wells” endangering children’s lives.
FH/MHK