The Daily Star鈥檚 former executive editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque鈥檚 mother, Anowara Mahbub on Wednesday urged the media houses and everyone not to spread any misinformation about Preeti鈥檚 death and other incidents occurred at Ashfaqul鈥檚 residence in the city.
She also demanded an impartial, thorough and fair investigation to unveil the truth and ensure justice.
She made the demands in a statement published by Ashfaqul鈥檚 family on Wednesday.
The statement said that Ashfaqul and his wife Tania Khondoker were asleep at the time of Preeti鈥檚 death.
Anowara Mahbub in the statement said that she rejected all the false claims and the insinuations made in a statement of 117 citizens of Bangladesh released on April 2 over Preeti鈥檚 death.
She said, 鈥楢s Ashfaque鈥檚 mother, I categorically deny the claim made in the statement that Ashfaque and Tania physically assaulted their house help. No competent authorities, no investigators, and not even the case filed by Preeti Urang鈥檚 family made such a claim.鈥�
She alleged that 117 citizens also made a number of fictional claims as regards the injury from the fall of Ferdausi, 7, from Ashfaque鈥檚 home in August 2023.
The statement claimed that the doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on August 4, 2023, recorded her injury as 鈥楲abia Minora鈥� meaning two small and thin skin tissues located outside the female reproductive organ.
This type of serial propaganda not only tarnishes the society, but also influences institutions tasked with investigating the matter, Anowara said.
The statement said that both the families, from elderly members to children, were suffering socially, mentally, and physically due to this vicious propaganda.
Regarding the financial assistance for Ferdausi and her family, Anowara said that an amount agreed upon by all parties was deposited on 1 November 2023 as instructed by the court.
鈥業 am a recipient of the President鈥檚 Award in 1980s for my special contribution to agriculture. My son Ashfaque, much like his freedom fighter father, has always been principled, ethical, and respectful in life,鈥� she said.
Ashfaque and Tania have been in jail for the past 71 days.
Anowara said, 鈥業 am old now. At the age of 85, I can no longer tolerate this injustice towards my son and his wife.鈥�
She also said that she had complete faith in the law of Bangladesh. The domestic worker Preeti Urang died failing from Ashfaque and Tania鈥檚 eighth floor flat in the capital鈥檚 Mohammadpur on February 6.
Earlier on August 6, 2023, another domestic help Ferdausi, also fell from the balcony of journalist Ashfaqul鈥檚 home and was seriously injured.