Bithi, the wife of former managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Shafiqur Rahman, has provided a confessional statement in court regarding the abuse of a minor they had hired as domestic help.
On Saturday afternoon, following the completion of a seven-day remand, Investigating Officer (IO) SI Robel Mia of Uttara West Police Station produced her before the court.
As the accused had voluntarily agreed to provide a statement, the IO filed an application to record the confession. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ismail recorded the statement, after which Bithi was sent to prison.
SI Tahmina Akter of the Prosecution Division confirmed the developments.
The application for recording the statement noted that the accused was extensively interrogated during the remand period in accordance with High Court directives. During questioning, Bithi admitted her involvement in the incident and expressed her desire to provide a confession. Later, she was sent to jail.
Last Friday, the IO had applied to record the confessional statements of Shafiqur Rahman and another domestic worker, Sufia Begum. While Shafiqur initially agreed to provide a statement, he later declined.
The court subsequently recorded Sufia’s statement and ordered both to be sent to jail.
Another domestic worker, Rupali Khatun, was sent to prison on Thursday following her remand.
The case was filed on 1 February by the child’s father, Golam Mostafa, a hotel employee, naming Shafiqur Rahman, his wife Bithi, and their two domestic workers, Rupali Khatun and Sufia Begum, as the accused. All four were arrested following the filing of the case.
On 2 February, the court rejected their bail applications and sent them to prison. On 10 February, the court granted a five-day remand for Shafiqur and Rupali, a seven-day remand for Bithi, and a six-day remand for Sufia.
According to the case statement, Shafiqur Rahman resides in Uttara Sector 9.
Mostafa had met Jahangir, a security guard at the residence, who was looking for a young girl to look after a child. Upon receiving assurances that the girl’s marriage and other expenses would be covered, Mostafa sent his daughter to work at the house in June last year.
Although he visited her on 2 November, the family was allegedly barred from meeting her after that date.
On 31 January, Bithi telephoned Mostafa, claiming the girl was ill, requesting that she be taken home. Mostafa arrived at the residence around 7pm, where Bithi handed the child over to him.
Mostafa stated in the case that he immediately noticed severe injuries on his daughter’s hands and various parts of her body. The child was also unable to speak properly. When questioned, Bithi was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation.
The girl was subsequently admitted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur. She later informed her father that she was frequently tortured at the residence, where she was beaten and branded with hot spatulas.
