A nine-year-old housemaid was injured critically following torture allegedly by her employer in Rajshahi Cantonment, according to the victim’s family and hospital sources.
Injured Sonia, daughter of Nobab Ali of Paschim Vatapara of Godagari, was admitted to One Stop Crisis Centre (OCC) of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) on Wednesday night.
There are wounds all over her body including bruises around her eyes, chest, back, around her navel, and two hands, said Dr Gopen Achariya, in-charge of the OCC.
Nobab Ali and Sonia’s cousin Mohammad Manik told this correspondent that Sonia was battered with an iron rod and soaked with hot water on February 12 and since then she was kept confined in a bathroom for three days.
The nine-year-old was crying in pain holding her abdomen on the hospital bed, said Dil Sitara Begum Chuni, an assigned lawyer of the OCC.
Sonia’s employer, wife of an army officer got angry at her as the minor girl used a blanket meant for the use of the housewife, Sonia told her family members.
Sonia’s mother Sheuli Begum rescued her child Tuesday night and brought her home after her employer called Sheuli over phone. Sonia was under treatment of a village doctor and shifted to RMCH.
The victim’s father alleged that his child was forced to do all the household chores after an elderly female domestic help left the house. Sonia was beaten up as she expressed inability to shoulder heavy household burdens.
Manik alleged that none of Sonia’s family members other than her mother are being allowed to see her at OCC and her parents were warned for not to speak to anyone. Sonia’s family is under pressure for not filing any case in this regard, he alleged. Journalists could not get comment from Sonia’s employer, as the cantonment security did not allow access to them.
As a group of reporters went to RMCH, they were not also allowed to talk to the victim or her mother. “She is under treatment, you will get time to talk to her later”, said RMCH Director Brig Gen Ashraful Alam Siddique.
He, however, confirmed the torture on Sonia and said he had talks with top officials of Rajshahi Cantonment who promised him monetary help for the housemaid besides expenses for her treatment.
Sonia used to read in class III at Vatapara Primary School. Her uncle Forma Ali and his wife Nasima Begum took her to the job at the army official’s house somewhen after the Eid-ul Azha.
Sub-inspector Nazma Begum, assigned police officer at the OCC, said no case was filed till last evening in this connection.
Declaring all forms of violence, torture and repression on domestic helps illegal, the High Court on February 15 ordered the government to ensure that no child aged below 12 is employed as domestic worker.
