Woman set on fire allegedly by ‘husband’ in Laxmipur

In a gruesome reminder of the recent fatal arson attack on Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a young woman from Chattogram has been set on fire allegedly by her ‘husband’ in Laxmipur.

Laxmipur CorrespondentSaiful Taslim, bdnews24.com
Published : 21 April 2019, 07:39 PM
Updated : 21 April 2019, 07:45 PM

The 22-year-old victim was admitted to the Laxmipur General Hospital and later sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition after the arson attack on Sunday, the Laxmipur hospital’s Resident Physician Anwarul Haque told bdnews24.com. 

“About 40 to 42 percent of her body is burnt. Her throat is also inflamed,” the doctor said.

Police personnel were accompanying the woman from Raujan as she has no relative in Laxmipur, Superintendent of Police in Laxmipur ASM Mahtab Uddin said.

The woman told reporters at the hospital she had married Salahuddin from Patarirhat of Kamalnagar Upazila in Laxmipur following a romantic relationship develop through mobile phone conversations two years ago. 

Salahuddin frequently visited his home, but never took her to Laxmipur, according to the woman.

Finally when she came to visit her in-laws house in Laxmipur on Friday night, she found that Salahuddin was already married to another woman and have two children, she said.

As Salahuddin refused to acknowledge her as his wife, she contacted Md Hafiz Ullah, a member of the local union council, and Village Defence Party member Abu Taher, for a resolve.

As Union Parishad Member Hafiz and Taher dillydallied, Salahuddin called her to a soybean field near his home on and set her on fire after pouring kerosene on her body, the woman said. 

Hafiz said the woman contacted her but he asked her to bring papers of her marriage with Salahuddin first just before she was burnt.

Citing witnesses, Hafiz claimed the woman burnt herself.

On Apr 6, assailants set madrasa student Nusrat on fire in Feni when she refused to withdraw charges of sexual abuse against the principal. The 18-year-old died five days later.

The incident sent shocks across Bangladesh triggering protests against oppression of women and girls.