The tragic demise of child domestic worker Preeti Urang, who allegedly met her end by falling from a high-rise in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, has spurred profound concern among 117 citizens, who are demanding an immediate, impartial, and thorough investigation into the incident.

In a unified declaration released on Tuesday, these individuals have voiced their demand for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and to face stringent penalties for their actions.

Preeti Urang served in the household of Syed Ashfaqul Haque, the executive editor of The Daily Star.

The discovery of her body prompted local protests, with allegations surfacing that Preeti was murdered. Lokesh Urang, Preeti's father, lodged a formal complaint at the Mohammadpur police station the following day. Syed Ashfaqul Haque and his spouse, Tania Khandaker, are currently detained in relation to this case.

In a statement endorsed by Shamsul Huda, the executive director of the Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), the signatories categorically stated their belief that Preeti Urang's death constitutes a murder. They unequivocally stated that any deviation in the investigation due to external pressures from influential entities would be unacceptable.

The signatories expressed their strong disapproval of the lack of action by the police and the biased coverage of the event by certain sections of the media. They also urged the management of The Daily Star to take decisive administrative actions against Syed Ashfaqul Haque, who stands accused of employing and mistreating a minor girl.

According to the statement, Preeti Urang, aged 13, was employed at the residence of Syed Ashfaqul Haque on February 6, 2024. Allegations have been made that Tania Haque, Ashfaqul Haque's wife, routinely subjected her domestic staff to physical abuse. The couple is now facing allegations of murdering Preeti by throwing her from the eighth floor. Preeti's father has claimed that his daughter was denied the opportunity to communicate with her parents while employed at the Haque residence. Before her fatal fall, Preeti reportedly dangled for about 13 minutes, desperately pleading for assistance, which was not forthcoming from the occupants of the Haque residence. Attempts by neighbors to intervene were thwarted by the residence's security personnel. Following her fall, Preeti was abandoned at a hospital by the building's caretaker and subsequently succumbed to her injuries.

The signatories pointed out that Preeti's pre-school records and the CCTV footage from the flat at the time of the incident have mysteriously disappeared. Moreover, the police report inaccurately recorded Preeti's age as 15 instead of 13 and misclassified the death as accidental.

They also highlighted a previous incident from August 6, 2023, where another 7-year-old domestic worker from Ashfaqul Haque's flat had either fallen or jumped but survived. The medical report noted severe injuries to her genital area, which required surgery. It was found that she had been injured between her legs before the fall, leading her to wish for death. A settlement of 200,000 BDT was made with the child's family, although the money ended up with a middleman.

Ten days after Preeti's death, the editor of The Daily Star issued a statement expressing sorrow over the incident and reaffirmed the newspaper's commitment to upholding child rights. They stated they were waiting for the judicial process to conclude before taking administrative action, a statement the citizens found surprising and unfortunate.

The statement concluded with a call to action, urging the government and relevant authorities to:

1. Re-investigate all previous incidents, including Preeti Urang's case, and ensure strict punishment for the culprits.
2. Immediately bring the case under the Women and Child Abuse Suppression Act, not considering it as accidental death.
3. Provide appropriate compensation to Preeti's family and ensure their safety.
4. Ensure proper medical treatment and education for the surviving child injured in the previous incident.
5. Investigate the specific injuries found on the child's deadbody to reveal the truth.
6. Investigate whether any of Syed Ashfaqul Haque's family members are child sexual predators, given that three child domestic workers were employed in their home, aged 7, 8, and 11, which violates Bangladesh's labor laws.
7. Bring to justice the guards who prevented the rescue of Preeti.