Two people, including a woman and her son, died after the husband of the woman allegedly poured petrol on them and set them on fire in Narsingdi following a family dispute.
The victims died while undergoing treatment at National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka—one around 9:00 am and the other at noon on Tuesday, confirmed Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Sujan Chandra Sarkar.
The victims were identified as Rina Begum, 38, and her son Forhad, 15. Rina’s younger son, Tawhid, 7, who sustained 16 percent burns, is still receiving treatment. Three others—Rina’s elder son Jihad, 24, her sister Salma Begum, 34, and Salma’s son Arafat, 15—received primary treatment and were later discharged.
The accused, Farid Mia, 44, a pick-up driver from Ghoradia area, was arrested on Saturday night from Baraicha area in Raipura upazila with the help of locals, police said.
Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman, residential surgeon at the burn institute, said Rina died around 9:15 am and her son Forhad around 12:00 pm on Tuesday. Rina had suffered burns on 58 percent of her body, while Forhad sustained 40 percent burns. Their bodies have been kept at the morgue for autopsy.
According to police and locals, Rina had left her husband Farid due to long-standing marital conflicts and had been staying at her father’s house with their three sons. Around 2:30 am last Wednesday, Farid allegedly went to his in-laws’ house and poured petrol on his sleeping wife, children, and relatives before setting them on fire. He then locked the door from outside and fled.
Neighbors rushed to the scene after hearing screams and broke open the door to rescue the victims. Police arrived shortly after a 999 emergency call and took the six injured to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital. Five of them were later transferred to the burn institute in Dhaka for advanced treatment.
“Of the six burn victims, Rina Begum and her son Forhad have died. The lone accused, Farid Mia, is currently in jail. The case will now be converted into a murder case,” said Additional SP Sujan Chandra Sarkar.
