A tragic incident of political violence has claimed the life of a seven-year-old girl in Bangladesh. The daughter of a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader was burnt to death early Sunday when a mob set fire to their family home in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila.
A Deadly Night in Lakshmipur
The attack occurred around 1:00 am at the residence of Belal Hossain, a businessman who also serves as the assistant organising secretary of the Bhabaniganj Union BNP. According to a report in The Daily Star, assailants locked the doors of the tin-shed house from the outside before setting it ablaze by pouring petrol.
Belal Hossain's mother, Hazera Begum, described the horrifying scene. She awoke to see the house on fire and found both doors locked. "I couldn't enter," she said. Her son managed to break a door to escape, and his wife, Nazma, got out with their four-month-old infant, Abir Hossain, and six-year-old son, Habib.
The youngest victim, Ayesha, was sleeping in a room with her two sisters. Salma Akter, 16, and Samia Akter, 14, were rescued with severe burns, but Ayesha could not be saved. Belal Hossain also suffered critical burn injuries.
Critical Injuries and Police Investigation
The injured were rushed to Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital. Dr Arup Pal, the Residential Medical Officer (RMO), confirmed that Belal Hossain was admitted there. However, his two teenage daughters, with 50-60% of their bodies burnt, were in critical condition and were referred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.
Police visited the spot and confirmed the details to The Daily Star by 10:30 am on Sunday. Authorities stated that an investigation is underway to identify the perpetrators and determine the motive behind this brutal act.
Background of Widespread Unrest
This arson attack did not happen in isolation. It follows a wave of protests across Bangladesh triggered by the murder of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi, a prominent youth leader, was shot in the head by masked gunmen on December 12 while attending an election campaign in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area.
He was later taken to Singapore for advanced treatment but succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. His funeral was held in Dhaka on Friday under tight security.
The unrest soon spread beyond the capital, with demonstrators attempting to march toward Indian diplomatic sites and vandalising properties linked to the former ruling Awami League. Law enforcement remains on high alert as investigations into Hadi's killing and the subsequent security lapse continue.
This latest violence underscores the heightened political tensions in Bangladesh, where targeted attacks are claiming innocent lives and leaving families devastated.
