A man set his wife afire allegedly for dowry at Ramchandrapur village in Sadar upazila on Sunday night.
The victim, Mazeda Khatun, 25, is the second wife of Shahidul Islam, son of Abdul Gani Biswas of the village.
Despite having first wife named Champa Khatun and four children, Shahidul, a rickshaw-van puller married Mazeda, daughter of Babar Ali of Palashbari village in Kurigram district about a year ago, Sadar police station SI Azizur Rahman said.
After marriage, he demanded Tk 50,000 in dowry from Mazeda. As she refused to comply with his demand, both Shahidul and Champa tortured her off and on.
On the night, the two poured kerosene on Mazeda and set her on fire. Then they took her to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital.
On information, police rushed to the hospital and arrested Shahidul. But his first wife fled the scene. Police also took deposition of Mazeda under Section 164.
Contacted, the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Jhenidah Sadar Hospital, Dr Rashed AL-Mamun said Mazeda sustained grievous burn injuries.
As her condition worsened, she was referred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).
Human rights activists shifted Mazeda to DMCH burn unit yesterday noon where her condition is stated to be critical.