Newly-wed woman set afire allegedly by husband

A newly-wed young woman received serious burn injuries allegedly by her husband and his accomplices at Betrahati village in Maizkhapan union under Kishoreganj Sadar upazila yesterday.
The victim, Mariam Akter, 20, daughter of Giasuddin of Betrahati village, fell in love with her cousin Abu Bakkar, 27, son of Abdul Kuddus of the same village, around one year ago, said police and locals.
At one stage Bakkar had to marry Mariam under pressure from a local arbitration around 20 days ago.
"But after marriage Abu Bakkar and his family members started torture on me," Mariam told this correspondent at hospital.
Around 5:00am yesterday Abu Bakkar, his brothers Kashem and Shahid and friends Kanchan, Mamun, Lalon and Kalam allegedly set fire to Mariam after pouring kerosene on her when she went to respond to the call of nature outside her room at her father's house at Betrahati village.
Hearing her scream, family members and neighbours rushed to the spot, doused the fire and admitted her to Kishoreganj Sadar Adhunik Hospital, said family members and locals.
As two-thirds of Mariam's body got burnt by fire, she was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Dr Abul Hossain Masum, on duty doctor of Kishoreganj Sadar Adhunik Hospital.
Mariam's mother Ambia Khatun said, "As they [in-laws] continued torture on my daughter Mariam, we took her to our house on Sunday. They also assaulted and injured my husband Giasuddin as he protested their acts."
Mariam's elder sister Bedena Khatun filed a case with Kishoreganj Sadar police station accusing seven people including Abu Bakkar in his connection, said Mir Musharraf Hossain, officer in-charge of the police station.
"We are trying our best to arrest the absconding accused," he added.