2 siblings say brother-in-law set them on fire in Dhaka’s Adabar

Two siblings were set on fire, allegedly by their brother-in-law, at the latter's house in Dhaka's Adabar area this morning.

The injured Mitu Akter (9) and Bappi (6) were taken to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

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Condition of Mitu, with 98 percent burns on her body, is critical while Bappi sustained eight percent burns, said SM Aiyub Hossain, resident surgeon of the institute.

Mujib Ahmed Patwari, assistant commission of Mohammadpur Zone Police, said they came to know that the brother-in-law set the children on fire.

Police are trying to arrest him, he said.

Injured Bappi said, coming from Bhola, they used to stay with their mother in Adabar Shekertek area. Their brother-in-law Alauddin took them to his house in Sunibir Housing area this morning and set them on fire after pouring kerosene on them around 11:00am.

Biplob Kumar Sarker, deputy commissioner of Tejgaon Division Police, said that Alauddin had been having arguments with his second wife, elder sister of the two children.

Police in primary investigation found that the man set the children on fire out of anger towards his wife, he said.

Rajib Hawlader, a shop owner at Alauddin's building, said he rushed to the house hearing screams of the children and found the door was closed from outside.  

"After opening the door, I found them on fire. We doused the fire and took them to hospital," he said.