Protest breaks out after child domestic worker dies in Uttara

The body of a child domestic worker has been recovered from a home in Dhaka’s Uttara. Locals are demonstrating in front of the building, alleging she was killed.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 March 2019, 12:20 PM
Updated : 26 March 2019, 02:10 PM

The body of a 12-year-old named Boishaki was found at a home on Uttara Sector 3’s Road 18 on Tuesday afternoon.

The girl worked at the home of one Rifat Ferdousi, who lives with his wife and child.

Police Uttara Zone Assistant Commissioner Quamruzzaman told bdnews24.com that police went to the home when Rifat called them. They broke down a door to find Boishakhi had been hanged.

“As it was a holiday they woke late,” Quamruzzaman said, citing Rifat and his wife. “They found the door locked and that the domestic worker was nowhere to be found. They called her several times but did not receive a response, so the homeowner contacted police.”

Boishakhi’s relatives rushed to the scene when they were told of her death and claimed she had been killed. Locals began to protest, placing various stray things in front of the home and setting them on fire. Cycles and furniture on the ground floor were taken and torched.

Fire service officials came to the area to put out the flames, but were blocked by the protesters.

A local named Mohibul told bdnews24.com that Boishakhi started working at the home two months ago. She went to her village home in Naogaon a few days ago after the death of her grandmother. She returned to Dhaka on Monday and her mother dropped her off at the house.

“No one can believe that this healthy girl, who was dropped off only yesterday, hanged herself.”

At one point the protesters began flinging brickbats at the building. Police were eventually able to recover the body around 6 pm.

Police official Quamruzzaman said that the allegations of Boishakhi's relatives will be investigated.

Further decisions will be taken after a post-mortem examination is conducted on the body, he added.