Controversy surrounds over death of child domestic worker in Dhanmondi, family alleges ‘murder’

A new controversy and question has arisen over the mysterious death of an 11-year-old domestic worker who fell from a multi-storey building in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.

The child, Rikta,11, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries on Friday (June 19) morning and upon arrival, doctors declared her dead.

Her father is a daily wage labourer from Shalla upazila of Sunamganj. She was the second of four sisters and one brother. The family claims that she was sent to work as a domestic worker in Dhaka for a monthly salary of just Tk4,000. She was assigned to the house of a high-ranking government official 15 days before Eid al-Adha.

Since the incident, there have been different statements about whether it was an accident or a planned murder. Police say that the matter is under investigation and the real cause of death will be confirmed after the autopsy report. However, netizens are raising various questions about this on social media. Some say it was murder, while others say it was an induced suicide.

Saddam Hossain, Assistant Commissioner of Dhanmondi Zone of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said that the child worked as a domestic worker in a 10th-floor flat in Dhanmondi. She was taken to the hospital in the morning with serious injuries and the doctor declared her dead. Later, the body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.

According to the initial police statement, the child died after falling from a roof or high place. However, it is not certain how it happened—an accident, suicide or some other reason.

On the other hand, the child's family claims that it was not an accident but that she was killed deliberately.

The child's father said in a tearful voice that a few days ago, the girl called her mother, cried and said that she no longer wanted to work in that house. The family claims that they later tried to bring her back home but failed.

The family alleges that the person through whom the child was sent to that house received a one-time payment of Tk10,000 from the householder. The householder refused to return the child to the family if the money was not refunded.

However, none of the accused have been able to comment on these allegations yet.

Since the incident, there has been a widespread backlash on social media. Many are questioning the non-implementation of child labor, safe working environment, and domestic worker protection laws.

Police said that whether the child had any injury marks on his body and what the situation was like at the scene will be clear after the autopsy and forensic report.

At the same time, CCTV footage of the building, statements of witnesses, and statements of the members of the house concerned are being verified.

According to local sources, there have been several cases of deaths of child domestic workers in the Dhanmondi area before, which are being compared with this new incident. This has further raised questions about the safety of child domestic workers in the area.

Police say that this is a very sensitive incident. Therefore, no conclusion can be reached right now. Law enforcement officials said the truth will be known once the autopsy report and investigation are completed.

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased child has demanded a swift and impartial investigation.