Investigators yesterday indicted Bangladeshi cricketer Shahadat Hossain and his wife for torturing an underage maid, police said.
Police officer Jahangir Hossain said investigators submitted an indictment to a magistrate court that set January 12 for a hearing on whether to take the case to trial.
The case came to light after Khandkar Mozzamel Haque, a passerby, found the 11-year-old girl on September 6 on the streets of Dhaka’s Mirpur neighbourhood and took her to the local police.
The girl, who used to work as a domestic help at Shahadat’s home, accused the cricketer and his wife of regularly torturing her, said investigating officer Shafiqur Rahman.
Police on October 4 arrested Jesmin Jahan, Shahadat’s wife, after Haque lodged a case with police under the Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Act.
Shahadat, who absconded after the initial accusations, surrendered to the court the following day and was initially remanded in custody. He was later granted bail until March 31.
If convicted Shahadat and his wife could face a maximum of 14 years of imprisonment as well as financial penalties.
The cricketer, who last played for Bangladesh in May against Pakistan, was also suspended from the national team by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after the allegation surfaced.
Underage boys and girls from poor families are often engaged as domestic help to well-off families in Bangladesh.