A deeply disturbing incident in Nilphamari has sparked outrage after a 40-year-old man allegedly set fire to his elderly mother’s home following a dispute over family land ownership.
The accused, identified as Nur Alam, is alleged to have deliberately torched his mother’s house on Tuesday afternoon in the Mozamer Mor area of Tupamari Union under Nilphamari Sadar upazila. The property belonged to his mother, Nurjahan Begum, and has been at the centre of an ongoing family dispute.
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Background to the dispute
Local residents and family sources said Nur Alam, son of the late Zainal Hossain and Nurjahan Begum, had been pressuring his mother and sister for an extended period to transfer ownership of inherited land in his favour. He is also alleged to have developed a serious addiction to online gambling, which reportedly led him to sell household belongings and assets to fund his habit.
According to villagers, repeated attempts were made by the family to resist transferring the land, which further escalated tensions within the household. On Tuesday morning, Nur Alam allegedly renewed his demand for the property, issuing threats when his mother and sister refused.
The incident
Later in the afternoon, the situation took a violent turn when Nur Alam allegedly set fire to his mother’s room. The flames quickly spread through the structure, engulfing the house and destroying household belongings before neighbours could intervene.
Residents alerted the fire service, which rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control. However, by the time firefighters arrived, the house had already suffered extensive damage.
Fire incident summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Victim (home owner) | Nurjahan Begum |
| Alleged perpetrator | Nur Alam (40) |
| Location | Mozamer Mor, Tupamari Union, Nilphamari Sadar |
| Cause (alleged) | Family land dispute |
| Trigger factor | Alleged online gambling addiction |
| Damage | Residential house and belongings destroyed |
| Response | Fire Service and Civil Defence extinguished blaze |
Eyewitness accounts and family statement
Nurjahan Begum, the victim and mother of the accused, described years of harassment and intimidation allegedly linked to her son’s gambling addiction.
She stated that Nur Alam had been persistently demanding that she transfer both her share of inherited property and that of her daughter. When the request was refused, he allegedly resorted to threats and ultimately arson.
“We have nowhere to go now,” she said, describing the destruction of their home and belongings. “He has been pressuring us for a long time. Today he set fire to our house simply because we refused to give him the land.”
Official response
Assistant Director of Nilphamari Fire Service and Civil Defence, Badsha Mawla Al Mazumder, confirmed that firefighters responded promptly after receiving the alert.
“The fire was brought under control after we reached the spot. A detailed assessment of the damage will be carried out following investigation,” he said.
Officer-in-Charge of Nilphamari Sadar Police Station, Zillur Rahman, stated that police had visited the scene and were gathering information.
“We have received reports of a house being set on fire. A police team has been sent. Legal action will be taken once a formal complaint is filed,” he said.
Community reaction and concerns
The incident has left the local community shaken, with residents expressing concern over rising domestic disputes linked to financial pressure and gambling addiction. Many have called for stronger intervention mechanisms to address addiction-related family conflicts before they escalate into violence.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, and efforts are underway to determine the full extent of the damage and whether additional legal charges will be brought against the accused.