Woman, two children survive arson attack

An NGO worker and her two minor children narrowly escaped death after miscreants locked them in the house and set it on fire at Croakchar Natun Bazar village in Shibchar upazila Tuesday night.
The victim, Nilu Aktar, 30, a field worker of Brac and wife Moniruzzaman, is a witness in two cases against Harun Sikdar, a brother of a UP chairman. Police said the miscreants might have tried to kill her for her becoming a witness.
Locals rescued Nilu and her two daughters Maria, 8, and Tanzila, 5, unhurt.
The tin-roofed house, which was fenced with jute stalks, was burned to ashes. The loss is estimated at Tk 3 lakh, including two tolas of gold ornament and Tk 15,000 in cash.
Police picked up two dredging workers--Sobhan Mia and Jafar Hossain from the spot for interrogation.