Clash, vandalism, and arson in Dhaka’s Banasree after the body of a home aide was discovered in the street
In Banasree, Dhaka, outraged residents have set cars on fire and vandalized a house in response to claims that a housemaid was killed.
Around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, the violence started at House No. 32 on Road No. 4 in the D-Block. Moshiur Rahman, the chief of Rampura Police Station, and two other people were hurt in a fight while trying to contain the scene.
“A household aide died there,” said Hayatul Islam Khan, deputy commissioner of Motijheel Division police. “We have yet to confirm how she died. The body was found lying outside the house and agitated locals vandalised it.”
Early in the morning, according to the locals, they discovered the bloody body in front of the house gate. They later discovered that the victim was employed by the home as a housemaid. Afterwards, she was recognized as Asma Begum, a about 33-year-old lady.
Rumors began to circulate that she had been killed, which sparked anger. Local laborers and household assistants from neighboring households began to gather in front of the house and protest.
Local garment worker Rima informed tbc24.net that the victim was employed on the building’s fourth floor. She claimed that on her way to work in the morning, she noticed the body.
According to the police, when they tried to get the body and send it to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, locals prevented them. The enraged crowd began throwing brickbats at one point. They set fire to two parked vehicles inside the building and vandalized the ground floor.
OC Moshiur claims that Delowar Hossain, a former tax commissioner, is the owner of the home. At about eight in the morning, his son, Supreme Court Advocate Mehedi Hassan, reported that the domestic helper had “fallen from the building” and phoned the police.
Asma resided in Mirpur at the residence of Delowar’s daughter Kanij Fatema. Three days prior, Asma and Fatema had visited the Banasree residence.
When word of the incident spread, a police team arrived at the scene at 8 am. There were already several locals at the site who were claiming the victim ‘was murdered’.
“I went to the scene myself when the incident was reported,” OC Moshiur said. “I was speaking to them with my helmet in my hand when someone began throwing brickbats, injuring me and two others.”
