5 burnt as man uses petrol to set fire to family in Narsingdi

Three victims have been rushed to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, with two in critical condition

A man has allegedly launched an arson attack on his own family in Narsingdi Sadar Upazila, using petrol to set their house on fire and leaving five people, including his wife and children, burnt.

Shawon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon at Dhaka's National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said three of the victims were admitted to the institute on Thursday morning.

Two of the burned victims are in critical condition, he added.

Narsingdi Model Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Anik Kumar Guha said the victims were rescued from the Sangita area of the Upazila in the early hours of Thursday and admitted to Sadar Hospital.

The injured are 44-year-old Farid Mia's wife Rina Begum, 38, his sons Arafat, 15, and Towhid, 7, and his sister-in-law Salma Begum, 34, and her son Farhad, 15.

“Rina has burns on 58 percent of her body, Farhad on 40 percent, and Tawhid on 16 percent. Their condition is not good. Two other victims were brought in from the incident. They have been referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital,” Shawon said.

A neighbour named Omar Faruk brought Rina and the others to the hospital.

He told bdnews24.com that Rina lived in Narsingdi Town’s Sangeeta area with her husband Farid, in a makeshift house on other people’s property. On Wednesday night, Rina was sleeping in the house with her sister and her children when Farid poured petrol through a gap in the door and set it on fire.

“Neighbours rushed to the scene when they heard their screams. Rina and her three children, and Rina’s sister Fatema and her child, had burns on different parts of their bodies. With the help of locals, we brought them to the hospital on two ambulances.”

Omar said, “Rina works as a household aide. I haven’t heard of any quarrel between them. I cannot understand why Farid would do such a thing. Farid fled after setting the fire.”

Locals said Farid is a pickup truck driver and is known to be addicted to drugs.

Rina's father Mohan Mia alleged that Farid had long abused his daughter.

“Farid is addicted to drugs. He has been torturing my daughter for a long time. He burned them at night. I want justice,” he said.

SI Anik said police rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call to 999 at midnight and rescued the victims.

“We are yet to determine how the fire started. The cause will be confirmed after investigation,” he added.