Woman, her mother burn to death as ex-husband allegedly locks door, sets home on fire

A 22-year-old woman and her mother burnt to death in a fire her former husband allegedly set after locking them inside their home in Gazipur's Kaliakair upazila, according to police and locals.

The deceased have been identified as Morshedha Begum and her mother Fuljan Begum, 40, said Kaliakair Police Station Officer-In-Charge (OC) Riad Mahmud.

The incident took place at around 3am Thursday (17 October) when both Morsheda and Fuljan were sleeping inside their tin-shed home in the upazila's Ratanpur area. Locals rescued and rushed them to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (SHNIBPS).

However, due to the severe burns they both suffered, Morsheda died at around 10am and Fuljan passed away at around 8pm Thursday, said Riad.

The former husband, identified as Tanvir Ahmed, is currently on the run, police said.

According to locals, the incident happened just three days after Morsheda divorced Tanveer following a marital dispute. The two got married five years ago. Both of them were unemployed. Fuljan worked at a local readymade garment factory.

After the fire started in the early hours of Thursday, screams could be heard from Morsheda's home, said locals. When they reached the spot, they found out that the house was burning and was locked from outside.

Morsheda was declared dead by the duty doctor upon arrival at SHNIBPS. Fuljan was admitted to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries later, police said.

"When she was being rescued, Morsheda kept saying, 'My husband set the fire. Please save my mother'," said Md Parvez, landlord of the house Morsheda lived in.

"Bodies of the deceased have been sent to the morgue for autopsies. A case will be filed in this regard if the relatives of the victims file a complaint. The incident is being investigated. We will soon identify the responsible person and arrest them," said OC Riad.