Bangladesh Unrest Turns Deadly As BNP Leader’s House Fire Kills 7-Year-Old Girl
A tragic arson attack amid escalating violence in Bangladesh claimed the life of a seven-year-old girl and left three others critically injured after the house of a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader was allegedly locked from the outside and set on fire in Lakshmipur district.
Deadly Fire At BNP Leader’s Residence
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila, local media reported. The targeted house belonged to Belal Hossain, a businessman and assistant organising secretary of the BNP in Bhabaniganj Union. According to police, miscreants allegedly poured petrol on the house, locked the doors from outside and then set it ablaze.
Confirming the incident, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Lakshmipur Sadar Model Thana, Md Wahid Parvez, said Belal’s seven-year-old daughter, Ayesha Akter, was burnt to death in the fire.
Family Members Suffer Severe Burns
The OC added that Belal Hossain and his two other daughters 16-year-old Salma Akter and 14-year-old Samia Akter—sustained critical burn injuries during the attack. Belal is currently being treated at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, while his daughters have been shifted to Dhaka for advanced medical care.
Speaking about the condition of the injured, Arup Pal, residential medical officer (RMO) of Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, told The Daily Star,
“Two teenage girls and their father were brought to the emergency department with burn injuries around 2:00am. Belal Hossain has been admitted here, but the two girls were referred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, as their condition is critical. About 50-60 per cent of their bodies have been burnt.”
Mother Describes Horrific Night
Belal’s mother, Hazera Begum, alleged that the attackers ensured the family could not escape by locking both doors of the house before setting it on fire. Recalling the terrifying moments, she told The Daily Star,
“I went to sleep after dinner. Around 1:00 am, I woke up and saw through the window that my son's tin-shed house was on fire. I ran out screaming but found both doors of the house locked from the outside. I couldn't enter. Eventually, my son managed to break the door and escape. His wife, Nazma, also managed to get out with their four-month-old infant, Abir Hossain, and six-year-old son, Habib.”
She further described how the children were trapped inside one of the rooms.
“My granddaughters, Salma, Samia, and Ayesha, were sleeping in one of the rooms. Two of them were rescued with severe burns, but the youngest girl (Ayesha) was burnt to death inside. Belal was also badly burned,” she added.
Police Probe Underway
Police said an investigation has been launched to identify those behind the attack and establish the motive. Md Wahid Parvez was quoted by The Daily Star as saying,
“We are investigating who committed this act and the motive behind it.”
No arrests have been reported so far in connection with the incident.
Violence Raises Law And Order Concerns
The shocking incident comes amid a surge in violent incidents across Bangladesh, raising serious concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation. The arson attack has further intensified political tensions at a time when the country is witnessing unrest under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
Authorities have said updates will be shared as the investigation progresses.
Deadly Fire At BNP Leader’s Residence
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila, local media reported. The targeted house belonged to Belal Hossain, a businessman and assistant organising secretary of the BNP in Bhabaniganj Union. According to police, miscreants allegedly poured petrol on the house, locked the doors from outside and then set it ablaze.
Confirming the incident, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Lakshmipur Sadar Model Thana, Md Wahid Parvez, said Belal’s seven-year-old daughter, Ayesha Akter, was burnt to death in the fire.
Family Members Suffer Severe Burns
The OC added that Belal Hossain and his two other daughters 16-year-old Salma Akter and 14-year-old Samia Akter—sustained critical burn injuries during the attack. Belal is currently being treated at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, while his daughters have been shifted to Dhaka for advanced medical care.
Speaking about the condition of the injured, Arup Pal, residential medical officer (RMO) of Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, told The Daily Star,
“Two teenage girls and their father were brought to the emergency department with burn injuries around 2:00am. Belal Hossain has been admitted here, but the two girls were referred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, as their condition is critical. About 50-60 per cent of their bodies have been burnt.”
Mother Describes Horrific Night
Belal’s mother, Hazera Begum, alleged that the attackers ensured the family could not escape by locking both doors of the house before setting it on fire. Recalling the terrifying moments, she told The Daily Star,
“I went to sleep after dinner. Around 1:00 am, I woke up and saw through the window that my son's tin-shed house was on fire. I ran out screaming but found both doors of the house locked from the outside. I couldn't enter. Eventually, my son managed to break the door and escape. His wife, Nazma, also managed to get out with their four-month-old infant, Abir Hossain, and six-year-old son, Habib.”
She further described how the children were trapped inside one of the rooms.
“My granddaughters, Salma, Samia, and Ayesha, were sleeping in one of the rooms. Two of them were rescued with severe burns, but the youngest girl (Ayesha) was burnt to death inside. Belal was also badly burned,” she added.
Police Probe Underway
Police said an investigation has been launched to identify those behind the attack and establish the motive. Md Wahid Parvez was quoted by The Daily Star as saying,
“We are investigating who committed this act and the motive behind it.”
No arrests have been reported so far in connection with the incident.
Violence Raises Law And Order Concerns
The shocking incident comes amid a surge in violent incidents across Bangladesh, raising serious concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation. The arson attack has further intensified political tensions at a time when the country is witnessing unrest under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
Authorities have said updates will be shared as the investigation progresses.
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