Police today (Feb 11) quizzed Executive Editor of The Daily Star Syed Ashfaqul Haque and his wife Tania Khondoker at the jail gate over the death of a teenage domestic worker at their home in the capital's Mohammadpur area.
In the inquiry, the police have asked the couple why they are repeatedly involved in abusing domestic workers.
Earlier on February 7, a Dhaka court denied bail and sent Ashfaqul Haque and his wife to jail over the death of domestic worker Preeti Urang, 15, at their residence. The court also permitted law enforcers to interrogate them at the jail gate if necessary.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police's (DMP) Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) HM Azimul Haque said the couple were questioned at the Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj on February 8 and 9. They were interrogated to find out why incidents of abusing domestic workers repeatedly occurred at their residence.
The accused were also asked for an explanation regarding why a domestic worker was tied up and kept at their house, he added.
The police are awaiting the report of the autopsy for further investigation. If evidence of direct murder or any other cause is found, legal action will be taken accordingly.
On Feb 7, Lukesh Urang, the deceased girl's father, filed a case with Mohammadpur Police Station against the couple.
On Feb 6, the house help, Preeti, fell from the ninth floor and sustained heavy injury. After being taken to a nearby hospital, the on-duty doctor declared her dead.
The body was then sent to the morgue of Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital for postmortem.
Following the incident, police detained four members of the family, including two children of the journalist, and took them to Mohammadpur Police Station for questioning.
A day later, the two children were allowed to go.
In the case statement, Lukesh Urang said his daughter had been sent to Dhaka two years ago to work as a maid. Throughout this period, Preeti was not allowed to visit her family. She could talk to her parents over the phone one or two times a month.
On 6 August last year, another domestic worker, Ferdausi, fell from the balcony of Syed Ashfaqul Haque's home and was seriously injured. She was rescued and treated first at the Suhrawardy Hospital and later at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
BDST: 1532 HRS, FEB 11, 2024
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