The conscious civil society has called for the death of tribal child Preeti Urang to be a ‘murder’. This demand was made in a press conference held at Abdus Salam Auditorium of Press Club on Thursday.
At the press conference, we do it ourselves‘The coordinator of Adv. Khushi Kabir says, I will call it murder. Either way, be it an accident or self-initiated. He has been created in such a way that his life is gone. This is not acceptable. We definitely want fair trial, impartial investigation of Preeti Urang. With that, we want to tell the government clearly to ensure everyone’s safety.
He said, every person’s life has a value. A very educated, responsible person, it also happens in his house, that means it happens in every house every now and then, you know that. We won’t tolerate it here anymore.
Before falling, Preeti Urang was hanging, how did she know this information, she said, “Please go to Mohammadpur a bit. Those who are here with us, we have gone. Go and see whether the people were standing there or not, whether they shouted or not. We live in Dhaka, we know many of their neighbors, they told us what happened.“
In a written statement, Associate Professor of Islamic University Farha Tanjim Titil said, “Although 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.
‘Preeti Urang’s unusual death has been surrounded by allegations of murder. 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 of that house have been subjected to torture, we are vocal in demanding a fair, impartial and impartial investigation and fair trial of those incidents.’
In a written statement, Titil further said, “Another 7-year-old maid fell or jumped from Syed Ashfaqul Haque’s Mohammadpur flat in August last year. he is alive Two similar events occurring in succession concern us. I could not find anything in the media about this. As a result we try to know about this on the ground. Some of us tried to get detailed information by going to Brahmanbaria, Moulvibazar, Mohammadpur, local police stations and related hospitals.
‘The surviving seven-year-old child, the medical report states, had a 3-3-3 cm long-wide-deep wound from the labia minora to the anus. His genitals have been operated. Adel, manager of Syed Ashfaqul Haque’s building, has signed as guardian in this important operation. This operation is done without informing the child’s parents. The Deputy Commissioner of Tejgaon Division of DB Police said in a television interview that it was not possible to check whether the incident of rape had taken place due to hasty removal of the patient. Syed Ashfaqul Haque’s office people have given threats.
Titil said, two before falling‘The child told our correspondents that he was injured between the legs. What is this injury? Because of which he wanted to die? We have many fears. We think this needs further investigation. As you know, after the incident, Syed Ashfaqul Haque settled the matter with the child’s family for two lakh taka. Although we went to the ground and found that the money also went to the middleman.
“It appears to us that a proper investigation will prove the truth of the allegations. Therefore, in today’s press conference, I demand that the government give special importance to the matter and conduct an impartial, speedy, fair, impartial, influence-free and transparent investigation and complete the trial of the real criminals. A repetition of an exact event cannot be an accident. ‘Death due to negligence‘ We fear that the crime of murder is being concealed or minimized by the case. Our investigation revealed that Preeti was 13 years old at the time of death (considering leaving pre-primary school at the age of 7 in 2018). The teachers said that his school records were lost.’
He also said that it is alleged that Tanya Khandkar, wife of Syed Ashfaqul Haque, used to beat the maids working in her house. A doctor who examined Preeti told a TV channel that Preeti had injury marks on her throat. Anus is abnormally large. Durgamani Bauri, another child domestic worker of the house said that Syed Ashfaqul Haque beat her with a belt. Blood pooled in his head. Locals have alleged that Preeti was killed by throwing her from the eighth floor. Preeti’s father complained that Syed Ashfaqul Haque’s family did not allow Preeti to talk to her parents while working in that house. They also received little remuneration.
‘The child named Preeti Urang was hanging for 12/13 minutes before falling. He wanted to live. But no one from Ashfaqul Haque’s house helped him. Many people in the area witnessed this incident. The people of the neighborhood wanted to come forward for help, but the security guards of the house did not allow them to enter. We have good reason to believe that the statement stating Preeti’s age as 15 years instead of 13 years is intentional. We will not accept it if the investigation is diverted under the pressure of any influential quarters.’
At that time, they raised various demands to the government. These are—
1. A fair independent impartial, impartial, influence-free and transparent investigation into the unnatural death or killing of Preeti Urang should be carried out and the guilty 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 lightened. 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 proper 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. Any other surviving child abused in Ashfaqul Haque’s home should be given adequate compensation including 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 3 child domestic helpers. They join work at the age of 7, 8 and 11 years. A child is a person who has not completed 14 years of age as per labor law of Bangladesh. According to Section 34 of the Labor Act, no child shall be employed as a laborer in any occupation or establishment. We demand an objective investigation into any instance of child abuse against Syed Ashfaqul Haque or any other member of his family. Also, I am demanding 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 sexual 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, I demand the immediate implementation of the instructions given by the Ministry of Labor, District Commissioner and Upazila Nirbahi Officer to form a monitoring cell across the country to protect the rights of domestic workers. At the same time to ensure the protection of the rights of domestic workers, every house must be inspected.
Earlier on February 6 this year, this indigenous child died unexpectedly at the residence of Syed Ashfaqul Haque and Tanya Khandkar in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. At the time of the incident, Syed Ashfaqul Haque was working as the executive editor of the English daily Daily Star. He was fired on April 4.
(Dhakatimes/25 April/MI/ES)
