After youngest child, elder daughter of Lakshmipur BNP leader Helal also dies of burn injuries
In the fire, Belal's youngest daughter, Ayesha Akter Sanju, was burnt to death on the spot.
Salma Akter Smriti, 17, who sustained critical burn injuries in an arson attack on her family home in Lakshmipur, died in the early hours today (25 December) while undergoing treatment at the ICU of the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka.
She expired at 12:15am today with 90 % flame burn, confirmed Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Lakshmipur Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hosain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi also confirmed the death around 1am.
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Smriti was the daughter of Belal Hossain, a businessman and assistant organising secretary of Bhabaniganj Union BNP under Sadar upazila. Belal also suffered burn injuries in the incident.
According to police and family members, miscreants allegedly locked the doors of Belal's house from outside and set it on fire by pouring petrol on the night of 20 December in the Sutargopta area of Paschim Char Mansa village under Bhabaniganj union.
In the fire, Belal's youngest daughter, Ayesha Akter Sanju, was burnt to death on the spot. Belal himself, along with his 2 elder daughters, Smriti and eighth-grade student Samia Akter Bithi, 14, sustained burn injuries.
Belal received treatment at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, while Smriti and Bithi were shifted to the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka. Doctors said around 90% of Smriti's body and about 2% of Bithi's body were burnt.
Bithi was released from the hospital the day after admission, but Smriti remained in the ICU in critical condition before succumbing to her injuries.
On Tuesday night (23 December), Belal filed a case with Lakshmipur Sadar Model Police Station against unidentified suspects. Police said they have been investigating the incident since then.
During the investigation, police recovered three padlocks from the scene — two locked and one unlocked. However, police said no clear evidence of petrol being used to start the fire was found at the spot.
Confirming the latest death, Additional Superintendent of Police Hosain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi said, "On the day of the incident, Ayesha died after being burnt. Now, Smriti, who was undergoing treatment, has also died. The victim's father has filed a case, and the incident is under investigation."
Earlier, police and fire service officials said the fire broke out around 12:30am on 20 December at the tin-shed house belonging to Belal Chowdhury.
Belal's mother, Hazera Begum, said she noticed the house on fire shortly after going to bed.
"My son broke the door and came out. His wife, Najma, came out carrying their four-month-old baby Abir Hossain and six-year-old son Habib," she said.
She added that the three daughters had been sleeping in one room, two of whom were rescued with burn injuries, while the youngest died inside the house.
Jesmin Akter, Belal's sister-in-law, said neighbours rushed to the scene after hearing screams.
"The fire service arrived and put out the fire. They recovered the body and took the injured to Dhaka," she said.
Lakshmipur Fire Service station officer Ranjit Kumar Das said firefighters brought the blaze under control and recovered one dead child and three injured persons, two of whom were in critical condition.
Md Wahid Parvez, officer-in-charge of Lakshmipur Sadar Police Station, said police visited the scene immediately after receiving information.
"One child died from burn injuries, and three others were burned. The matter is under investigation," he said.
Advocate Hasibur Rahman, joint convener of Lakshmipur district BNP, condemned the incident and demanded a proper investigation and exemplary punishment of those responsible.
