In a horrific incident underscoring the escalating violence in Bangladesh, a seven-year-old girl was burnt to death and three family members critically injured after their house was locked from outside and set on fire. The attack targeted the residence of a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader in the early hours of Saturday.
Details of the Tragic Night in Lakshmipur
The tragedy unfolded around 1:00 am local time at the home of Belal Hossain in West Char Mansa village, located within Lakshmipur Sadar upazila. Hossain, a businessman who also serves as the assistant organising secretary of the Bhabaniganj Union BNP, was inside with his family when the assailants struck.
According to accounts given to The Daily Star by the victim's grandmother, Hazira Begum, the attackers locked both entrances to the tin-shed house before pouring petrol and setting it ablaze. Awakened by the fire, Begum tried desperately to enter the burning building but found the doors secured from the outside.
"I ran out screaming but found both doors of the house locked from the outside. I couldn't enter," Hazira Begum recounted. Her son, Belal, eventually managed to break a door to escape. His wife, Nazma, also got out, saving their four-month-old infant, Abir Hossain, and six-year-old son, Habib.
Critical Condition of Survivors and Fatal Outcome
The fire claimed the life of Belal's seven-year-old daughter, Ayesha Akter. The BNP leader himself and his two other daughters, Salma Akter, 16, and Samia Akter, 14, suffered severe burn injuries. The two teenagers, with 50-60% burns on their bodies, were in critical condition and were subsequently transferred from Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital to the specialised National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for advanced care. Belal is receiving treatment at the local hospital.
Incident Occurs Amid Wave of Protests and Violence
This brutal attack did not occur in isolation. It took place against the backdrop of a fresh wave of protests that have gripped Bangladesh following the assassination attempt on Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent leader of the country's 2024 uprising, who later died in Singapore.
The political climate remains highly charged. Just a day before this incident, on Friday, the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus issued a statement urging citizens to resist intimidation, arson, and property destruction. The administration blamed such acts on a small group of fringe elements threatening the nation's peace.
The same day witnessed another act of mob violence, where a Hindu youth named Dipu Charan Das was lynched over blasphemy allegations in Mymensingh, and his body set on fire. On Saturday, the interim government announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with that killing.
The arson attack in Lakshmipur represents a severe and tragic escalation in the ongoing unrest, moving the conflict directly into family homes with devastating consequences.
