ABU DHABI // A man who was left completely paralysed after a wall collapsed on him at work has been awarded Dh200,000 in compensation by a court.
The Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance ordered that the payment be made to Harun Talukdar after he suffered a broken spinal cord when a wall fell on him at a construction site in Abu Dhabi in February last year.
However, Mohammed Fawzi, legal adviser at the Adil Fakhir Advocates and Legal Consultancy in Abu Dhabi, who represented the 41-year-old Bangladeshi worker, said the amount awarded was “not sufficient and we want more for the victim”.
“We would demand Dh1 million through the civil court. We demand this because of the patient’s complete physical disability. He might be in this condition for 10 to 20 years so needs money to finance his treatment,” Mr Fawzi said.
“Harun has family and children, so how is he going to meet their expenditures when he can’t work?”
Arman Ullah Chowdhury, labour counsellor at the Bangladesh embassy in Abu Dhabi, said Mr Talukdar faced “dire consequences due to health and financial burdens for himself and his family”.
“As per Harun’s physical disability and mental trauma, we believe he must get more compensation. In fact, this judgment is from the first instance court, later the compensation might go up,” said the diplomat, adding: “We are aiming for Harun to get at least Dh500,000 so that he can support his family and finance his medical expenses.”
Mr Talukdar’s visa expired on October 18 and was not renewed by his company. His embassy repatriated him on November 10.
“The company cancelled my visa and gave me the cancellation papers. But it didn’t pay my due wages and entitlements,” said Mr Talukdar, who has a five-year-old son and had worked with his company for three years.
The Bangladesh embassy will ensure that he receives his compensation despite having left the UAE.
“We repatriated him, as nobody knows how much time it will take to get the compensation from the court,” said Mr Chowdhury. Before leaving for Bangladesh, Mr Talukdar was living in a dilapidated hut at a farm in Al Rahba, about 50 kilometres from the capital.
“My condition is getting worse each day due to improper medication,” said Mr Talukdar, who earned a monthly salary of Dh1,300.
Mr Talukdar’s sponsor at Al Dafna General Maintenance said the firm had paid the worker everything he was owed as per his contract. “Nothing is left with us now. And his work (contract) with us also finished.”
Pakistani S J and Y A from India, who worked at the construction site where Mr Talukadar was injured, were charged with causing injuries accidentally and ordered to pay Dh5,000 each, plus court fees.
Mr Chowdhury said the support given to expatriate workers and financial assistance through the courts provided by the UAE government was much appreciated. “It’s great help.”
anwar@thenational.ae
