She survived on toilet water, tissue paper, toothpaste: Judge on minor house help's torture at ex-Biman MD's residence
As the magistrate read out these details, several lawyers in the courtroom were visibly distressed
She was beaten with a metal ladle and chilli powder was rubbed into her eyes. She was locked in a bathroom, and forced to survive on toilet water, tissue paper and toothpaste. Long exposure to water in the bathroom caused her feet to rot. She was denied warm clothing and was not given proper food.
This is how the judge described the abuse of the 11-year-old domestic help Mohona.
Police produced four accused, including former Biman managing director and CEO Shafiqur Rahman and his wife Bithi, before the court this afternoon (10 February) for remand hearing.
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The investigation officer, Sub-Inspector Robel Mia of Uttara West Police Station, sought seven days' remand for each accused.
The Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Zakir Hossain heard the remand petition, with the accused brought to the courtroom under tight police security shortly before 3pm.
After the hearing, the court granted five days' remand for Shafiqur, seven days for Bithi, five days for domestic worker Rupali Khatun, and six days for another domestic worker Sufia Begum.
'Shameful for nation'
At around 2:45pm, the accused were brought into the courtroom under tight police security. The magistrate arrived at 3:13pm, and the remand hearing began.
The investigation officer first presented arguments in favour of granting remand, stating that the case is highly important and sensitive. He said police custody was necessary to uncover why the accused had inflicted such brutal torture on the victim.
Lawyer Fahmida Akter, representing the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, said the case is under ministry investigation. She questioned how a senior government official could have subjected a child to such abuse.
She explained that all four accused had brutally tortured the victim and that it was crucial to determine the reasons behind the torture.
Under the Child Labour Act, employing a child under 12 is illegal. Yet, the senior airline official knowingly employed the child and subjected her to abuse, she said.
Even other household staff had slapped her at times, and a metal ladle was kept ready to strike her. Fahmida described the incident as "shocking, shameful for the nation", and urged the court to grant maximum remand for the accused.
Another prosecution lawyer, Liton Mahmud, added that the accused had confined the child inside a toilet, denied her food, and forced her to survive by consuming toilet water, tissue, and toothpaste. He requested the court to grant maximum remand.
The defence lawyers opposed the remand, arguing that the prosecution seemed to exaggerate the injuries. They requested the court to consider humanitarian grounds, noting that one of the household staff, Rupali Begum, appeared with her child, and sought bail for the accused.
'You did not buy her with money'
The magistrate then questioned the accused directly, asking why the child had been tortured. Bithi claimed that no abuse had occurred at her house and said the child had previously worked elsewhere before coming to her home.
When pressed on how the abuse occurred, she alleged that the child had attempted suicide, and she slapped her to prevent it.
The magistrate rejected this claim, noting that photos and videos of the torture had circulated online, showing injuries across the child's body.
Bithi continued to deny abuse, but the magistrate asked why she had employed the child if she believed her to be ill or unstable. She admitted to paying the child's father a total of Tk50,000 to employ her and eventually conceded to a single act of striking the child.
The magistrate said, "You did not buy her with money, did you? Tell the truth in court and do not lie... Why did you harm her? Explain."
'Struck her once on head'
Turning to Shafiqur Rahman, the former airline MD and CEO, the magistrate questioned how such abuse could occur in his household given his high social standing.
Shafiqur denied the allegations but later admitted to striking the child once on the head.
The magistrate also referred to Mohona's statement, recorded under Section 22 on the previous Sunday at the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmin Akter.
The statement detailed extensive injuries, including long burn marks from chin to throat, lash marks and bruises on the forehead, arms, and legs, as well as severe marks from bamboo sticks on the back. The victim also suffered injuries to her eyes and persistent fever and headaches.
As the magistrate read out these details, several lawyers in the courtroom were visibly distressed.
The magistrate highlighted further horrifying details from the victim's statement: she had been beaten with a metal ladle, chilli powder was rubbed into her eyes, she was locked inside a bathroom, denied proper food and warm clothing during winter, forced to eat toothpaste, and drink toilet water. She had also suffered beatings with bamboo sticks while being confined around the bathroom area.
A lawyer present in the courtroom called for the perpetrators to face punishment for every act of abuse, a sentiment that was echoed by other lawyers in agreement.
