Woman Dies in Dinajpur After Ex-Husband Sets Her Ablaze

A 25-year-old woman has succumbed to catastrophic burn injuries in the Biral Upazila of Dinajpur district after her former husband allegedly poured petrol over her and set her alight. Law enforcement officers took the accused into custody shortly after the late-night attack on Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Sumaiya Akhtar Shymoli, daughter of Sirajul Islam, a resident of Bijora village within Bijora Union No. 7 under Biral Upazila. The primary suspect, 51-year-old Mahbubur Rahman, hails from the Lalbagh area under the jurisdiction of Rangpur Kotwali Police Station.

According to police reports and local witnesses, Shymoli had dissolved her marriage with Rahman approximately two months ago, following which she returned to live with her father. At around 11:00 pm on Saturday, 1 August, Rahman forcibly breached the residence. He then doused Shymoli with petrol and ignited the fuel using a lighter before fleeing the scene as neighbours rushed to the house upon hearing her frantic cries for help.

The victim was initially transported in critical condition to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital. Due to the severity of her burns, attending doctors referred her to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for specialised tertiary care. However, her condition deteriorated rapidly during transit, and she died en route. She was subsequently brought back to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where the duty physician officially pronounced her dead at approximately 4:00 am on Sunday.

Police from Biral Police Station launched an immediate operation and arrested Rahman on the night of the crime. Confirming the incident, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Biral Police Station, Anisur Rahman Sarkar, stated that formal legal proceedings are underway and a murder case is being registered against the suspect. The victim’s body was transferred to the hospital morgue for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death, after which it will be returned to her family.

This tragic case highlights the severe risks surrounding domestic disputes and spousal harassment following marital breakdown. In Bangladesh, acts of extreme violence against women fall under stringent legislation, including the Penal Code and the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act (Nari O Shishu Niratan Daman Ain). Authorities have assured a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the attack to ensure full legal accountability.