Human rights activists have formed a human chain in Dhaka, demanding a fair and impartial investigation and justice for Preeti Urang, a domestic help who tragically fell to her death from a flat in Mohammadpur area of Dhaka on 6 February.

The flat belongs to Syed Ashfaqul Haque, executive editor of The Daily Star, one of the leading English newspapers in Bangladesh.

Taking part in the human chain, formed in front of the National Press Club on Tuesday, Preeti’s mother Nomita Urang sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s interference in ensuring justice for killing her daughter.

“Do you have no compassion or favour whatsoever? Is this how a poor girl should be thrown from a building? Can anyone torture in this manner? Nomita said when tears were rolling down her eyes.

Claiming that her daughter has been tortured to death, Nomita said, “I seek justice, of course, a fair one, from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."

Lokesh Urang, father of the victim, said he has sent his daughter to Dhaka due to his poverty but she has been tortured to death. He also sought the prime minister’s intervention to ensure justice.

Preeti’s grandfather Sangkar Tanti, said they are tea garden workers by profession and live far away from the capital Dhaka.  

“We struggle to provide regular meals for our children, so we send them to Dhaka for work. However, I cannot endure the pain of their suffering. I want no other children like Preeti to be subjected to such torture here. I want no more of our children to meet the tragic end of their lives falling on the streets. I want fair justice,” he said.

Addressing the human chain, Preeti’s cousin Kabita Urang, said that they came to Dhaka only to get justice.

Besides, the Domestic Workers’ Rights Network expressed grave condemnation over the incident in a human chain formed at the same place in Dhaka on the same issue.   

The human rights organisation, in collaboration with an active alliance of 30 trade unions, has urged the authorities concerned within the government to identify and prosecute the real culprits through a fair investigation to ensure justice.

Preeti, a 15-year-old, died after she fell from the 8th floor of a building on Shajahan Road.

On information, went to the flat and detained Ashfaq, Tania and six members of their family to the Mohammadpur Police Station. After interrogation, Ashfaq and Tania were kept in jail and the rest were released

Preeti’s father Lukesh Uran lodged a case against Ashfaqul and his wife Tania Khandaker with the police station on Wednesday.