A woman died after being poisoned, allegedly by her domestic helper, during a theft incident in Dhaka’s Uttara Sector 7 this evening. The victim was identified as Ayesha Akhter, 62, a resident of the area, confirmed Uttara West Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kazi Mohammad Rafiq Ahmed.

Her husband, Anwar Hossain, who was also poisoned, is receiving treatment at Lubana Hospital in Uttara Sector 13.

The incident occurred around 7:45 pm at House 32 on Road 18 in Uttara Sector 7.

OC Kazi Rafiq told The Daily Star that police received a call via 999 reporting that an elderly couple had been found unconscious.

“A patrol team rushed to the spot and found that the victims were being taken to a nearby hospital in an ambulance,” he said.

They were taken to Lubana Hospital, where doctors declared Ayesha dead.

Quoting family members, the OC said the couple lived in an apartment with their son and his wife. About three days ago, they had hired a domestic help named Marufa. The family, however, did not have her full address or mobile phone number. The couple’s son and daughter-in-law had reportedly been away for the last two days, leaving the elderly parents alone.

Police suspect that the domestic help mixed a sedative or poison with food and served it to the couple, leaving them unconscious before she fled with valuables from the house.

“The body has been kept at the hospital morgue and inquest proceedings are underway,” OC Kazi Rafiq said, adding that legal action is underway.