A group of eminent citizens on Thursday demanded an independent and impartial investigation into the death of Preeti Urang, the child domestic help who died after falling from the residence of the sacked executive editor of The Daily Star, Syed Ashfaqul Haque, in Dhaka鈥檚 Mohammadpur area.
Addressing a press conference under the banner of Conscious Civil Society at the National Press Club in the city, they also demanded a speedy trial in the case filed over the incident.
Nijera Kori coordinator Khushi Kabir presided over the press conference, while Kushtia Islamic University assistant professor Farha Tanzim Titil presented the keynote speech.
Association for Land Reform and Development executive director Shamsul Huda, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad leader Kajal Debnath, writer Rahnuma Ahmed, Dhaka University professor Gitiara Nasreen, and others were also present at the press conference.
The eminent citizens claimed that repetition of the same event could not be an accident as another house help sustained severe injuries after falling from a window of the building on August 4 in the past year.
They said that they found that the seven-year-old, who survived the incident, had undergone surgery on her genitals, and Abdul Adel, the manager of the building, signed as a guardian for the surgery.
They demanded ensuring proper treatment and education for the child.
They said that they had not seen any significant commitment from the government despite repeated requests for protection and welfare of domestic helps.
The citizens urged the government to complete the trial of Preeti鈥檚 death through an impartial, neutral, fair, influence-free, and transparent investigation with special attention.
Preeti Urang, a minor girl and the daughter of a tea worker in Moulvibazar, died falling from Ashfaq鈥檚 eighth-floor flat at Mohammadpur in the capital on February 6.
The police arrested Ashfaq and his wife, Tania Khondoker, soon after the victim鈥檚 father filed a case over the death of his daughter.
The High Court on Monday refused to grant bail to Syed Ashfaqul Haque, who has been in jail for the past 79 days over Preeti鈥檚 death.
The bench of Justice Rezaul Hasan and Justice Fahmida Quader, however, granted interim bail to Ashfaq鈥檚 detained wife Tania Khondokar in the same case.
