A Dhaka court has placed former Biman Bangladesh Airlines MD and CEO, Shafiqur Rahman, and three others on remand following horrific revelations of the torture of an 11-year-old domestic worker, Mohana.
During the hearing on Tuesday, Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Zakir Hossain shared the victim's statement, describing how the child was confined to a bathroom for months. The court noted that Mohana survived by eating toothpaste and tissues, and her toenails had rotted from prolonged exposure to water.
The court emphasized the sensitivity of the case, stating that the nation must know of the cruelty occurring within the home of a high-ranking official.
Lawyers for the state, including Fahmida Akhter Rinki of the One-Stop Crisis Center, detailed the abuse. They alleged that the child was beaten with hot irons, had her fingers crushed with spice grinders, and was denied winter clothing. Despite the presence of other domestic staff, the abuse remained hidden until the victim was returned to her father in critical condition.
After hearing the evidence, the court granted the following remand periods for interrogation. Bithi (Shafiqur’s wife): 7 days,Sufia Begum (Housekeeper): 6 days, Shafiqur Rahman & Rupali Khatun (Housekeeper): 5 days
While defense counsel AK Azad argued that Shafiqur Rahman was unaware of the incidents due to his work schedule, the court proceeded with the remand after Bithi partially admitted to the allegations during questioning.
Mohana was employed at the Uttara Sector 9 residence last June. Her father, Golam Mustafa, was barred from seeing her after November. On January 31, the family was told to take her back due to "illness," only to find her covered in burns and unable to speak. A case was subsequently filed at Uttara Paschim Police Station.
