The National Domestic Women Workers Union (NDWWU) has demanded exemplary punishment for the accused in connection with the “mysterious death” of an ethnic minority community child at the residence of The Daily Star Executive Editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque in the capital, reports Daily Sun.

They made the demand during a rally and human chain formed on the occasion of International Women’s Day in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday.

Speakers further said, “If the domestic workers’ law is enacted and implemented in the country, these helping hands will be able to live with proper rights and dignity.”

“Due to the lack of necessary laws in this regard, domestic workers are repeatedly subjected to repression and deprived of justice,” they added.

Notably, Preeti Urang, 15, hailing from Mirtinga village in Moulvibazar’s Kamalganj upazila, tragically fell from the 7th floor of Ashfaqul’s residence in Mohammadpur area of Dhaka on 6 February.

Preeti used to work as a maid in that house for almost two years. In connection with Preeti’s death, her father Lokesh Urang filed a case with the Mohammadpur Police Station on the charge of ‘death due to negligence’ the next day.

Preeti’s death was surrounded by mystery as another domestic help, Ferdausi, fell from the balcony of journalist Syed Ashfaqul Haque’s house in the same manner on 6 August 2023, leaving her seriously injured.

Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan