Torture of domestic help in high society raises eyebrow

Staff Reporter  :
The recent tragic death of a teenage domestic worker at the home of a journalist family in the capital has reignited concerns over the safety and well-being of maids within elite societal circles.

The maid, identified as 15-year-old Pritee Urao, became the center of a distressing incident leading to the arrest of Syed Ashfaqul Haq, Executive Editor of the Daily Star, and his wife, Tania Khandaker, last Tuesday.

Following a court’s approval, police conducted an interrogation at the jail gate, probing the couple about their alleged recurrent abuse of domestic workers.

Pritee was discovered in a dire state on the ground floor of a residence at 2/7 Shahjahan Road in Mohammadpur and urgently taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital, where she was declared dead upon arrival.

This incident has profoundly disturbed societal conscience, prompting widespread introspection on the trust placed in affluent households.

Remarkably, this is not an isolated incident involving Syed Ashfaqul Haq; a previous case on August 5 of the prior year highlighted the rescue of another severely injured domestic worker, Ferdousi, from his home, resulting in legal action against Haq.

The recurring theme of domestic help abuse and the apparent impunity of perpetrators due to the lack of conclusive evidence bring to the fore the critical issue of domestic workers’ vulnerability to exploitation and mistreatment, especially within high-status households.

Experts and various organizations have emphasized the urgent need for enhanced awareness and robust measures to safeguard domestic workers’ rights and safety in Bangladesh.

They also stress the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, irrespective of their social standing, to prevent such tragedies.

A thorough investigation is advocated to ensure justice for the victim and to deter future occurrences.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that prior to her fatal fall from the ninth floor, Pritee was seen hanging from a window grill for an extended period.