A woman died in the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), early hours of Thursday, 40 days after being set on fire reportedly by her in-laws over dowry.
The deceased Jannati Akter, 18, was set ablaze at Hazipur village in Narsingdi Sadar on April 21.
Victim’s grandfather Sirajul Islam, also a freedom-fighter, said Jannati’s father-in-law and mother-in-law were involved in drug dealing; they often pressured her to assist them with money for their business.
After Jannati refused to help, they doused her with kerosene while she was asleep and set her on fire.
Sirajul added: “Jannati was often physically and mentally tortured by her in laws Humayun and Shanti Begum for dowry to assist drug business. She left their house several times but returned on her husband Shibu’s request with the assurance of no further abuse.”
Jannati sustained 32% burns when she was admitted to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital, later shifted to DMCH for better treatment.
rsingdi Sadar Model Police Station OC Syeduzzaman said: “The victim’s family filed a case with a Narsingdi court on May 5. I have not been informed of her death as of yet.”
