Former managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Shafiqur Rahman was sent to jail on Friday after refusing to give a confessional statement in a domestic worker abuse case.
His domestic help Sufia Begum, however, gave her statement during the same proceedings.
Following their remand, both were produced before the court by the investigating officer of Uttara West Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Robel Mia.
They had initially agreed to give confessional statements voluntarily, prompting the officer to request their recording before Metropolitan Magistrate Al Biruni Mir.
While Sufia Begum gave her statement, Safiqul Rahman refused to do so and was subsequently sent to jail, confirmed SI Tahmina Akter of the Prosecution Department.”
The application for recording the statements stated that the accused were extensively questioned following High Court instructions.
During the interrogation, both admitted involvement in the alleged incidents. Authorities stressed that recording confessional statements was crucial for conducting a thorough and proper investigation into the case.
The case was filed by Golam Mostafa, a hotel worker and father of the victim, on 1 February, naming Shafiqur Rahman, his wife Bithi, and two domestic workers, Rupali Khatun and Sufia Begum.
Following their arrest, bail applications were denied, and the accused were placed on remand for questioning.
Shafiqur Rahman and Rupali Khatun were placed on a five-day remand, Bithi seven days, and Sufia Begum six days.
Rupali Khatun was sent to jail after her remand concluded on Thursday.
According to the complaint, Mostafa’s daughter was sent to Shafiqur Rahman’s residence in Sector 9, Uttara, in June last year, after assurances that her living and marriage expenses would be covered.
Mostafa last saw his daughter on 2 November and was allegedly denied further visits.
On 31 January, Bithi called Mostofa claiming his daughter was unwell. When he went to bring her back, he found her with severe injuries on her hands and body. She was unable to speak clearly, and Bithi failed to provide satisfactory explanations.
Mostafa admitted his daughter to Gaziipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital, where she revealed repeated abuse, including beatings and burns suffered from a heated iron bar (Khunti).
