Blood money paid for 19 Bangladeshi victims in UAE

Blood money for all the 19 Bangladeshi workers who died in a 2013 road crash in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been paid to their families.

 "Now we have received the blood money for the families of all 19 Bangladeshi victims," Muhammad Imran, Bangladesh ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf News yesterday.

The blood money worth over 4 million UAE Dirham in total for 19 Bangladeshis was disbursed by Aman, the employer's insurance company, following a recent order by a local court.

On February 4, 2013, a truck carrying sand and crushed stones veered off the road and collided with the workers' bus, killing 21 workers including 19 Bangladesh nationals, and injuring 23 others.

Arman Ullah Chowdhury, Labour Counsellor at the Bangladeshi Embassy, said the embassy will send the money to the Bangladesh government next week, which will distribute it to the dependents as stipulated in the power of attorney under Sharia.

A victim's father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters also get a share in different proportions under Sharia, which has already been mentioned in the power of attorney, he said.