Sex worker dies after attack at Daulatdia brothel, one arrested

A sex worker who was critically injured in an attack at the Daulatdia brothel in Rajbari’s Goalanda upazila has died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Sonia Akter, 30, died on Tuesday morning, nearly two weeks after assailants allegedly entered her room on the night of August 29 and beat her severely before striking her head with a brick.

Her friend Irene found Sonia lying injured and covered in blood around 6am the following day. She was initially taken to Goalanda Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as her condition deteriorated. She was subsequently moved to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

Police arrested Juel Sardar, 35, on the day of the attack over alleged involvement. He was reportedly close to Sonia and regularly visited her room.

Police have yet to establish a clear motive for the assault. Some locals suspect the attacker may have entered the room posing as a client with an intention to rob her, but police have not confirmed the theory.

A case was filed on September 6 by brothel landlord Toffazzal Hossain Tapu against unidentified suspects with Goalanda Ghat Police Station.

Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam said investigators were examining various pieces of information gathered in connection with the attack and Sonia’s death. After an autopsy, her relatives took her body to her ancestral home in Barishal.