The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks why it should not be ordered to pay Tk 1 crore compensation to the family of five-year-old Jisan, who died after falling into a ditch in the capital's Adabar area in March this year.

The court also asked the authorities concerned of the government to submit a report to the same court in three months a list of water bodies in the capital and safety measures they have taken around those in compliance with the city's master plan.

On March 9, Adabar's Nabodoy Housing resident Abul Hashem alias Hashu Mia's son Jisan died after diving in a ditch in the neighbourhood to fetch a cricket ball. Jisan was playing cricket with a group of children in an open space in the area.

Firefighters, responding to a distress call on the national emergency helpline, rushed to the spot but failed to rescue Jisan alive.

Yesterday, the bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed delivered the order and rule after hearing a writ petition filed by rights organisation Children Charity Foundation Bangladesh, seeking necessary order on the matter.

Local government and rural development (LGRD) secretary, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) chairman, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, deputy commissioner of Dhaka, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) managing director, chief executive officer of Dhaka North City Corporation and officer-in-charge of Adabar Police Station have been made respondents to the rule. 

The writ petitioner was represented by Barrister Abdul Halim.