Drug addict burns wife to death

Burnt by husband on Sunday night, a garment worker died at the burn unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital around 9:00pm yesterday.

The victim is Salma Khatun, 30, wife of Sahabul Islam of Diar Baghoil village in Ishwardi upazila under Pabna district.

Sahabul set her afire after pouring kerosene on her around 11:00pm on Sunday as she refused to give him her salary money, family sources said.

Locals rescued her and took her to Ishwardi upazila health complex from where she was shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

With around 80 percent burn injuries on the body, she died at the hospital at 9:00pm yesterday, said hospital sources and relatives.

The victim's cousin Md Sumon Islam, who attended her at the burn unit of the hospital, said, "My cousin Salma worked at a garment factory in Ishwardi EPZ. Her husband often tortured her to force her to give away her salary."

"On Sunday night he asked Salma to hand over the amount that she got as salary. As Salma refused, he brought her outside the house and set fire after pouring kerosene on her," Sumon said.

Sahabul's nephew Md Jibon Hossain told this correspondent, "My drug addict uncle set fire to my aunt for money. He often tortured her."

"Following a case by the victim's uncle, police arrested her mother-in-law while the culprit husband went into hiding after the incident," said Biman Kumar, officer in charge of Ishwardi Police Station.