Abused child domestic worker traumatised, needs psychotherapy

An 11-year-old domestic worker, who was allegedly subjected to prolonged physical abuse, is suffering from severe psychological trauma and requires regular psychotherapy, according to doctors treating her.
The child, Mohona, is currently undergoing treatment at the surgical department of Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Hospital.
She was admitted with severe burn injuries and multiple signs of physical abuse, allegedly inflicted over several months while she was working at the Uttara residence of former Biman Bangladesh Airlines managing director and CEO Md Shafiqur Rahman.
Residential Medical Officer Sheikh Farhad said the girl was not only physically tortured but also mentally traumatised.
“Along with long-term physical abuse, the child is suffering from severe psychological trauma. She needs regular psychotherapy,” he said.
During a visit to the hospital on Monday, burn marks and signs of injury were visible on Mohona’s chest, back, arms and legs. Some wounds have dried while others are still fresh.
Doctors also confirmed that the child is suffering from anaemia in addition to psychological complications.
Four people – including Md Shafiqur Rahman and his wife Bithi, have been arrested in connection with the incident. 
They were arrested from their Sector 9 residence in Uttara on Sunday night.

Two other arrestees are domestic workers of the house, Rupali Khatun and Mst Sufia Begum.
All four were shown as arrested under the Children Act and produced before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Monday afternoon. The court ordered them to be sent to jail.
According to police and hospital sources, Mohona had been working as a domestic worker at the Uttara residence for about eight months.
The child told authorities that she was often deprived of adequate food, locked inside a bathroom for long hours and beaten regularly.
She also alleged that she was burnt on different parts of her body with a heated ladle and was not allowed to communicate with her family, which doctors believe aggravated her mental trauma.
Konabari Police Station OC Jalal Uddin Mahmud said the police became aware of the incident after a Facebook post went viral on the night of 31 January.
“On humanitarian grounds, the police rescued the child and admitted her to hospital,” he said.
GMP Sadar Police Station OC Aminul Islam said that the child was subjected to extreme cruelty.
Meanwhile, Additional Inspector General of Police Mahitul Islam visited the hospital on Monday on behalf of the DMP commissioner and provided Tk50,000 as financial assistance for the victim’s treatment.

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