Child abuse case: Ex-Biman MD's wife confesses in court

Bithi, wife of Shafiqur Rahman, former Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, has given a confessional statement in court admitting her involvement in a case filed over the torture of an 11-year-old child domestic worker. Sub-Inspector Tahmina Akter of the Police Prosecution Division confirmed this information to the media.

On Saturday, February 21, police produced the accused before court after a seven-day remand. Subsequently, as she voluntarily agreed to give a confessional statement, the investigating officer and Sub-Inspector of Uttara West Police Station Robel Mia filed an application to record it.

Upon the application, the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ismail recorded her statement. She was then ordered to be sent to jail. However, what she told the court during the recording of the statement could not be known.

The application for recording the statement said that the accused named in the case, Bithi, was produced at the police station after being taken on police remand and completing medical examination. Keeping the accused in the station lock-up, extensive interrogation was conducted following the High Court's directives regarding the incident. During interrogation, the accused confessed to being involved in the incident. The accused expressed willingness to voluntarily give a confessional statement in court.

The application further stated that in the interest of fair investigation, recording the accused's confessional statement is necessary. Extensive investigation into the case is ongoing. It is absolutely necessary to keep the accused detained in jail custody until the investigation is completed.

On February 2 at 3:30 am, Uttara West Police Station police arrested them from their residence in Sector 9, Uttara. The following day, former Biman MD Shafiqur Rahman, his wife Bithi and four others were shown arrested and sent to jail.

On February 10, the court granted five days' remand for Shafiqur Rahman, seven days for his wife Bithi, and five and six days respectively for two domestic workers, Rupali Khatun and Mosammat Sufia Begum. On Thursday, Rupali Khatun was sent to jail.

Additionally, Shafiqur Rahman, despite applying to give a confessional statement, ultimately did not do so. However, another accused in this case, domestic worker Mosammat Sufia Khatun, has given a confessional statement in court. Both of them were also sent to jail that day.

Earlier, on February 2 at 3:30 am, police arrested four people including former Biman MD Shafiqur Rahman and his wife Bithi from their residence in Sector 9, Uttara. On February 10, the court granted five days' remand for Shafiqur Rahman alias Shafiqur Rahman, seven days for his wife Bithi, five days for domestic worker Rupali Khatun and six days for Mosammat Sufia Begum. Among them, Rupali Khatun was sent to jail on Thursday.