BNP Leader’s 7-Year-Old Daughter Burnt To Death After Mob Sets Family Home Ablaze

As violence continues to grip the country following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a seven-year-old girl was killed in Bangladesh after an angry mob set fire to the house of the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

BNP leader Belal Hossain’s house in Lakshmipur was attacked and set on fire in the early hours of Saturday, according to reports by The Daily Star and Dhaka Tribune. The incident reportedly occurred around 1 a.m. when protesters gathered in front of the house and set it on fire while family members were still inside.

Model Thana Md Wahid Parvez, Officer-in-Charge of Lakshmipur Sadar, told Daily Star that Belal’s daughter, seven-year-old Ayesha Akter, died in the fire.

“A child was found dead and three people were rescued with burn injuries,” Rajint Kumar of Lakshmipur fire brigade told Dhaka Tribune.

Belal Hossain and his two other daughters, 16-year-old Salma Akter and 14-year-old Samia Akter, suffered serious burn injuries. The injured were first rescued from the house and later taken to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors described their condition as critical.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Belal’s mother confirmed the attack and claimed that the attackers poured gasoline and locked the doors of the house before setting it on fire.

Unrest Continues in Bangladesh

Bangladesh remains on high alert amid widespread unrest triggered by Hadi’s death. Following the first incident, protesters targeted the offices of leading newspapers such as The Daily Star and Prothom Alo and damaged their buildings.

Hadi was buried in Dhaka on Saturday, amid tight security, as large crowds gathered to pay their last respects. Addressing the mourners at the funeral, interim chief Muhammed Yunus made an emotional commemoration speech.

“You are in our hearts and you will remain in the hearts of all Bangladeshis as long as the country exists,” Yunus said.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as tensions remain high in many parts of the country.

The Police Department in Bangladesh said on Sunday that they have arrested two more people in connection with the lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh district, taking the total number of arrests to 12.

The latest arrests took place earlier today, Daily Star reported, citing sources from Bangladesh police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

According to The Daily Star, Mymensingh’s Additional Police Chief Abdullah Al Mamun stated that the two men were identified as 25-year-old Ashik and 25-year-old Kaium.

All the 12 detained persons were handed over to Bhaluka Police Station in Mymensingh.

It was recorded that Dipu Chandra Das, a worker in a garment factory, was beaten to death by a mob on charges of blasphemy, and then his body was hanged and set on fire on December 18.

An additional superintendent of police stated that a factory official had informed the Bhaluka police that a group of workers had attacked Dipu inside the factory and accused her of “making derogatory remarks about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)” in a Facebook post, an additional superintendent of police said.

Factory sources told The Daily Star that the attackers then took Dipu outside the factory premises, where local residents also joined the attack, resulting in his death.

However, Ms. Samsuzzaman, Company Commander, RAB-14 in Mymensingh, told The Daily Star that investigators found no evidence to show that the deceased had posted or written anything on Facebook that could hurt religious sentiments, adding that neither local residents nor garment factory workers could point to any such activity on the part of the victim.

The victim’s brother Apu Chandra Das also filed a case at Bhaluka Police Station on Friday, naming 140 to 150 unidentified people as accused. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation.

Earlier on Saturday, Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, said in a statement that ten people have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of Dipu Chandra Das, adding that RAB has captured seven suspects, while the police have arrested three other suspects.

According to the statement, those arrested by RAB include Md Limon Sarkar (19), Md Tarek Hossain (19), Md Manik Mia (20), Ershad Ali (39), Nijum Uddin (20), Alomgir Hossain (38) and Md Miraj Hossain Akon (46).

The three people arrested by the police were Md Azmol Hasan Sağır (26), Md Shahin Mia (19) and Md Nazmul (21).

Authorities added that the investigation into the incident continues.

(with ANI entries)