Death of domestic help sparks protest

Dulali Khatun Alo

People of Teesta village under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila held a rally at local bus stand yesterday protesting the murder of a domestic help allegedly by her master and his wife at the village on Wednesday night.
Locals said, domestic help, Dulali Khatun Alo, 12, daughter of rickshaw van puller Mozammel Haque of Namatari village under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, was tortured to death at Tokdar Vila allegedly by her master Shariful Alam Tokdar alias Swapon, 57, food inspector of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, and his wife Towhida Ara Tokdar, 42, headmistress of Teesta KR Khadem Government Primary School, at midnight.
Police recovered the body Thursday morning and arrested Shafiul Alam Tokdar, following a murder case filed with Sadar Police Station by the victim's father against him and his wife Towhida at noon. Police could not arrest Towhida, as she has gone into hiding soon after the incident.
Protesting the murder of Alo, locals also brought out a procession after Juma prayers on Friday. At the yesterday's rally, the protesters demanded exemplary punishment to the killers and immediate arrest of the other accused, Towhida.
The villagers said they will also form a human chain at Teesta bus stand beside Rangpur-Kurigram road today (Sunday) and block Rangpur-Kurigram road tomorrow to press home their demand.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station Moynul Islam told this correspondent that domestic help Alo was tortured to death as her body bore injury marks.
"We have arrested her master Shariful Alam Tokdar and are looking for his wife Towhida Ara Tokdar," the OC said.