Considering the death of minority child Preeti Urang as a ‘murder’, the conscious civil society demanded speedy trial of those involved in the incident.
The organization made this claim in a press conference organized at the Abdus Salam Auditorium of the National Press Club on Thursday (April 25).
Adv. Khushi Kabir said, every person’s life has a value. A very educated, responsible person, if it happens in his house, it means it happens in every house, you know. We will not tolerate this anymore.
Farha Tanjim Titil, associate professor of Islamic University, said, “Though civil society has repeatedly demanded and requested the government for the protection and welfare of domestic workers, we do not see any reflection of it in reality. The numerous cases of violence against domestic workers in recent times remind us again and again of its necessity.
On February 6, the unusual death of this minority child took place at the residence of Syed Ashfaqul Haque in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. At the time of the incident, Syed Ashfaqul Haque was working as the executive editor of the English daily ‘The Daily Star’. He was fired on April 4.
Allegations of murder surrounding Preeti Urang’s unusual death. We want a fair, independent, neutral, influence-free, impartial and transparent investigation of this incident and strict punishment of the guilty through speedy trial. Some other child domestic workers were tortured in that house. We are vocal in demanding a fair, impartial and impartial investigation and fair trial of those incidents.
At that time, they raised various demands to the government. These are;
1. A fair, independent, impartial, unbiased, influence-free and transparent investigation into the unusual death or killing of Preeti Urang should be carried out and the culprits should be brought under the law and strict punishment should be ensured.
2. If Preeti Urang’s death is considered a negligent homicide, it will be deliberately mitigated. This case should be brought under the Prevention of Women and Child Abuse Act and tried in the Women and Child Abuse Tribunal. For this, we demand that appropriate authorities or higher judicial orders be given if necessary.
3. Adequate financial compensation should be provided to Preeti’s family. Also, all measures should be taken to ensure the safety of his family.
4. The other surviving child who was abused in Ashfaqul Haque’s house, should be given adequate compensation along with ensuring proper medical and educational facilities.
5. The actual incident should be investigated by examining the particular wound on the child’s body. If necessary, the culprits should be identified and punished appropriately in legal process.
6. Syed Ashfaqul Haque had three child domestic workers in his house. They join work at the age of 7, 8 and 11 years. According to labor laws of Bangladesh, people who have not completed 14 years are children. According to Section 34 of the Labor Act, no child shall be employed as a laborer in any occupation or establishment. There is any instance of child abuse against Syed Ashfaqul Haque or any other member of his family. We demand an objective investigation about them. Also, I demand his trial and punishment in the legal process.
7. The janitors who did not allow Preeti to be rescued from the hanging position on the instructions of the owner of the house, should also be brought under impartial justice and punished. With this, I demand that Daily Star’s Moulvibazar correspondent Mintu Deshwara and Preeti’s uncle Phulsai Orang be brought under investigation.
8. We demand a separate investigation into whether any gang was involved in trafficking and sex-slavery of children brought from tea plantations.
9. We strongly demand that the policy on child labor be turned into law. I demand from the government to make the age of children 16 years instead of 14 years in employment. Along with this, I am demanding from the government to make the age of children 16 years instead of 14 years in the case of employment at home in the protection and welfare policy of domestic workers.
10. In 2017, according to the instructions of the court, the directives given by the Ministry of Labor, District Commissioner and Upazila Nirbahi Officer to protect the rights of domestic workers, to form a monitoring cell across the country, I demand immediate implementation. At the same time, every home should be inspected to protect the rights of domestic workers.
OFA/KA
