Child burnt to death, two others injured in arson attack on BNP leader's home in Lakshmipur
According to family members, the attackers locked the doors of the tin-shed house from outside and set it on fire by pouring petrol
A child was burnt to death and two others were seriously injured after miscreants set fire to the residence of a local BNP leader in Lakshmipur today (20 December), police and fire service officials said.
The incident occurred around 12:30am in Sutargopta area of Paschim Char Mansa village under Bhabaniganj union of Sadar upazila.
The house belongs to Belal Chowdhury, assistant organising secretary of Bhabaniganj union BNP and a pesticide trader.
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According to family members, the attackers locked the doors of the tin-shed house from outside and set it on fire by pouring petrol.
Belal's eight-year-old daughter, Ayesha Akter Sanju, who was asleep inside, was burnt to death.
His two other daughters — Salma Akter Smriti, 17, and Samia Akter Bithi, 14 — sustained severe burn injuries and were admitted to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Belal Chowdhury also suffered injuries.
Belal's mother, Hazera Begum, said she noticed the house on fire shortly after going to bed and rushed out, only to find both doors locked.
"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 and that two of them were rescued in a burnt condition, while the youngest died inside the house.
Jesmin Akter, Belal's sister-in-law, said neighbours came forward after hearing her screams and tried to extinguish the fire before informing the fire service.
"The fire service arrived and put out the fire. They recovered the body and took the injured to Dhaka," she said.
Ranjit Kumar Das, station officer of Lakshmipur Fire Service, said firefighters brought the blaze under control and recovered one dead child and three injured persons from the house, two of whom were in critical condition.
Md Wahid Parvez, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said police visited the spot after receiving the information.
"One child died from burn injuries and three others were burnt. 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 punishment of those responsible.
