A seven-year-old girl was killed in a fire after the home of a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader was set ablaze during overnight unrest in Lakshmipur district, according to Bangladeshi media reports.
The incident took place around 1 am on Sunday at the residence of Belal Hossain, a businessman and assistant organising secretary of the BNP’s Bhabaniganj Union unit, in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila.
His youngest daughter, Ayesha, died after being trapped inside the burning house, while Hossain and two of his other daughters sustained serious burn injuries.
Family members alleged that unknown attackers locked the house from the outside before setting it on fire using petrol.
Hossain’s mother, Hazera Begum, said she woke up to screams and flames and found both doors bolted shut from outside, preventing rescue efforts.
She said her son later managed to force the door open and escape, while his wife fled the house carrying their four-month-old infant and their six-year-old son.
According to Hazera, three of her granddaughters were asleep in one room when the fire broke out.
Two teenage girls, Salma Akter, 16, and Samia Akter, 14, were rescued with severe burns, but the youngest child was unable to escape. Belal Hossain also suffered extensive injuries in the blaze.
While Hossain was admitted locally, the girls were referred to Dhaka’s National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery due to the seriousness of their condition, with burn injuries covering an estimated 50 to 60 per cent of their bodies.
Police confirmed they had visited the site and launched an investigation to determine those responsible and the motive behind the attack.
Officials said efforts were underway to establish whether the arson was linked to the broader unrest gripping parts of the country.
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The violence erupted amid protests across Bangladesh following the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
Hadi was shot by masked assailants on December 12 while campaigning in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area and later succumbed to his injuries in Singapore, where he had been taken for advanced treatment.
Following his death, demonstrations spread beyond the capital, with reports of vandalism and attempts by protesters to march toward Indian diplomatic establishments and properties associated with the former ruling Awami League.
Hadi’s funeral was held in Dhaka on Saturday under tight security, even as authorities said investigations into his killing and the ensuing security lapses were continuing and law enforcement agencies remained on high alert to prevent further violence.
