Legal battle for compensation continues 15 years after deaths of Tareque Masud and Mishuk Munier
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Fifteen years after a tragic road accident claimed the lives of acclaimed filmmaker Tareque Masud and ATN News Chief Executive Officer Mishuk Munier, the legal battle for compensation for their grieving families remains unresolved.
The two victims were among five people killed on August 13, 2011, when their vehicle collided with a bus on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Manikganj. While the High Court issued a compensation order in one case, the matter remains pending in the Appellate Division. A separate compensation case filed by the family of Mishuk Munier is currently at the witness testimony stage in the High Court.
To mark the 15th anniversary of the tragedy, members of the victims’ families, road safety activists, lawyers, and officials from the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) gathered at the Tareque Masud-Mishuk Munier memorial near the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University on Thursday. The event, organized by BLAST, featured a candlelit vigil to honor their memory.
Speaking at the event, Asif Munier, brother of Mishuk Munier, emphasized that the emotional trauma of losing loved ones persists long after such disasters. He noted that the families are seeking more than just financial compensation; they are pursuing dignity and social recognition. He further urged for greater public awareness to prevent future road tragedies. Although Tareque Masud’s wife, Catherine Masud, is currently abroad, she remains spiritually present with the families during these commemorations, Asif Munier added.
BLAST officials asserted that compensation for road accident victims should not be viewed as a grant or financial aid, but as an inherent legal right. The organization has called for a simplified, expedited, and victim-friendly process for securing compensation as outlined under the Road Transport Act of 2018. They further demanded greater accountability from the state to implement effective road safety measures.
Data provided by BLAST, citing statistics from the Road Safety Foundation, highlights the broader scope of the crisis, noting that more than 3,307 people have died in road accidents between July 2023 and the present. The organization maintains that ensuring swift justice for victims’ families is as critical as enforcing state accountability to curb the rising death toll on the country’s roads.
Following the memorial, the Dhaka University Film Society held a screening of Tareque Masud’s notable works, “Muktir Gaan” and “Fera,” continuing a long-standing tradition of honoring the legacy of the two men through their contributions to cinema and journalism.
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