A Dhaka court today (February 13) granted four days remand to Daily Star executive editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque and his wife Tania Khandakar in a case over the 'mysterious' death of domestic help Preeti Urang.

Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Saifur Rahman passed the order after the investigating officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Nazmul Hasan, in-charge of Mohammadpur Police Outpost, applied for ten days remand.

The defendant lawyer appealed for cancellation of remand and demanded bail. 

Later, the court after hearing both parties denied bail and remanded each accused to four days remand.

However, Preeti Urang's mother Nomita Urang today (Feb 13) demanded the Prime Minister's intervention to ensure justice for the 'mysterious' death of her daughter, who used to work as a domestic help at the residence of a journalist.

She made this plea from a human chain organised by Sachetan Nagarik Samaj this afternoon.

Nomita said: "My daughter has been tortured and killed. I want justice for my daughter from the Prime Minister. I want justice for my Preity. I demand a fair trial."

Supporting the claim for justice in the case of her daughter's murder to the Prime Minister, Preeti Orang's father Lokesh Urang said, "I sent my daughter to Dhaka for work. We now demand a fair investigation of my daughter's murder from the Prime Minister." 

The members of the Preeti organised the human chain program in front of the National Press Club

Preeti's mother also said: "We are poor people. That's why I sent my daughter here (to Dhaka) for work. What kind of attitude you showed to the poor people? Is it justified to throw a poor girl from a building? Is it justified to torture like this?" 

“No other child should be subjected to such torture. Let no more of our children fall and die on the streets. We want a fair trial,” she added.

On 6 February Preeti, a 15-year-old, died after she fell from the 8th floor of a building on Shajahan Road in the capital’s Mohammadpur area. Preeti was serving as a domestic help at the home of Daily Star executive editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque.

The next day, her father, Lokesh Urang, filed a case with Mohammadpur police station, naming journalist Syed Ashfaqul Haque and his wife, Tania Khondoker. Following the filing of the case, both accused were promptly arrested.

Police detained the Haque along with his wife Tania Khandaker, daughter Afrin Haque, son Syed Ahnaf Mahmud, his sister-in-law Rajia Khandaker, and her husband Al-Razi Mahbub.

BDST: 1922 HRS, FEB 13, 2024
MSK/SMS