Still reel from shock

Relatives, neighbours as well as teachers, schoolmates and friends of three schoolgirls who met tragic death along with five other family members including their parents and baby brother in a fire accident at their house in Joypurhat town on Wednesday night, are still reeling from the shock.

Of the three kids, Monira Akter Bristi, 14, was a Class VIII student of Joypurhat Sadar Thana School while her younger twin sisters Hasi Akter and Khushi Akter, 13, were Class VII students of district Collectorate Girls' School.

“Bristi was candidate of the ongoing JSC examinations. She had secured GPA-5 in the PSC exam. She had knack in sports, cultural activities and scouting,” said Abul Bashar, headmaster of their school.

Mahbub Ul Alam, headmaster of Collectorate Girls' School, said Hasi and Khushi had lively presence at the school as they were involved with extra-curricular activities like scouting and cultural programmes.

“We can't imagine that they will not come to school again,” said Firoza Khatun, a classmate of Hasi and Khushi.

Md Murad Hossain, a resident of Armannagar area of Joypurhat municipality, said, “Abul Momin, a chicken trader, migrated to Joypurhat from Domar upazila of Nilphamari around 30 years ago. After residing at a rented house for long, they built their own house here three years ago.”

Three members of the family were burnt alive as this house caught fire from an electric short circuit around 9:30pm on Wednesday.

Informed, fire-fighters rushed to the spot and rescued five other injured.

The five people, first admitted to Joypurhat Modern Hospital, later succumbed to their burn injuries on the way of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The eight deceased include Abul Momin, his wife, parents and four children. 

Local civil administration, police and fire service and civil defence formed three committees to investigate the fire incident.

“It appears that the fire originated from an electric rice cooker due to use of low quality materials for electric wiring at the house,” said Md Saleh Uddin, deputy director of fire service and civil defence.