Tragic Discovery in Feni as Teenage Domestic Worker Found Dead

Police in Parshuram, Feni, have launched an investigation following the discovery of a teenage domestic worker found dead inside an apartment near the Upazila gate.

The deceased has been identified as Farhana Akhtar, also known as Priya, daughter of Saiful Islam from the Sebarhat area of Senbag Upazila in Noakhali district. Her body was recovered late on Thursday night from a third-floor flat in Khader Tower, adjacent to the Parshuram Upazila Gate road. Investigators also seized a handwritten note discovered alongside the body.

Background and Sequence of Events

According to police and local residents, the apartment belongs to Mosharraf Hossain Talukder and his wife, Jaheda Akhtar, a teacher at the local Ketranga Mohammadpur Primary School. Farhana had been employed as a domestic worker in their household for approximately three years.

On Thursday morning, Jaheda Akhtar left for her school, leaving Farhana alone in the apartment. Upon returning in the evening, she rang the doorbell repeatedly but received no response from inside. Sensing an anomaly, she enlisted the assistance of neighbours to break open the door. Upon entering, they discovered Farhana hanging from a ceiling fan in one of the rooms and immediately alerted the local authorities.

Investigation Underway

Officers from the Parshuram Model Police Station arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the call, secured the area, and recovered the body. A handwritten note found near the victim was seized as evidence.

While the exact contents of the note have not been fully disclosed, police revealed that it does not explicitly mention the cause or circumstances surrounding her death. Forensic examination and handwriting analysis are currently being conducted to ascertain whether the note was indeed authored by the victim and to determine its relevance to the incident.

Ashraful Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Parshuram Model Police Station, confirmed that an inquest report has been prepared and the body has been transferred to the Feni General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

“We are thoroughly examining all evidence recovered from the scene to establish any potential link to the fatality,” stated OC Ashraful Islam. “The exact cause of death will be definitively determined once the official post-mortem report is received.”

Contextual Overview of Domestic Workers’ Vulnerabilities

This incident highlights the broader issues surrounding adolescent domestic workers across Bangladesh. While many families in urban and semi-urban settings rely heavily on live-in domestic staff, instances of unmonitored working conditions, emotional stress, and isolation remain significant areas of concern for human rights organisations and law enforcement agencies.

Authorities have assured that all angles, including the circumstances leading up to the tragedy and the veracity of the recovered note, are being rigorously investigated. Further official statements are expected following the conclusion of the medical examination.