BNP Leader's House Torched in Bangladesh, 7-Year-Old Daughter Killed: Report

Last Updated:December 20, 2025, 18:47 IST

Ayesha Akhtar, age 7, died and three family members were injured after Belal Hossain's house in Lakshmipur Sadar was set ablaze amid Bangladesh unrest and protests.

Bilal is being treated at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital and both girls have been referred to Dhaka in a serious condition. (X)

Amid widespread violence in Bangladesh, a 7-year-old girl was killed, and three members of her family were injured after the house of a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader was locked from outside and set on fire by agitated protesters.

The incident took place on Saturday at the residence of Belal Hossain, a businessman and assistant organising secretary of Bhabaniganj Union BNP in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila, The Daily Star reported, citing the police.

According to police, miscreants allegedly poured petrol on the tin-roofed house in Paschim Char Mansa area and set it ablaze while the family was asleep. Bilal’s 7-year-old daughter, Ayesha Akhtar, died on the spot, while Bilal and his daughters, Salma Akhtar (16) and Samiya Akhtar (14), sustained severe burn injuries.

Belal is being treated at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, while his daughters have been transferred to Dhaka for advanced medical treatment, the report added.

“We are investigating who committed this act and the motive behind it," the news outlet quoted Officer-in-Charge of Lakshmipur Sadar Model Thana, Md Wahid Parvez, as saying.

Arup Pal, residential medical officer (RMO) of Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, said, “Two teenage girls and their father were brought to the emergency department with burn injuries around 2 am. 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."

Belal’s mother, Hazera Begum, claimed that the family had gone to sleep after dinner when, around 2 am, protesters locked the door from outside and set the house on fire. Petrol was poured to accelerate the flames, which quickly spread throughout the house. She said that she was unable to identify the perpetrators.

“I went to sleep after dinner. Around 1 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 down 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 said as quoted by The Daily Star.

“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.

Bangladesh Unrest

Massive protests broke out in several parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chattogram, following the death of July uprising organiser Sharif Osman Hadi in Singapore. Hadi, the convener of Inquilab Mancha, died while undergoing treatment after he was shot in the head in Dhaka on December 12.

Media houses, cultural centres and political offices were attacked. A Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched and burnt to death in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy.

Bangladesh now faces its worst bout of violence in months, just weeks before crucial elections scheduled for February 2026.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Friday condemned mob violence by fringe elements, calling on citizens to resist violence, hatred and incitement at a critical moment of democratic transition.

(With inputs from agencies)

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