Four of a family burned in Gazipur house fire

Four members of a family, including two children, suffered burn injuries in a fire at their home in Majhikhola area of Gazipur city on Friday morning.

The fire broke out around 6:30am on October 23. Family members suspect that someone may have deliberately set the house on fire through a window, although no evidence has yet confirmed the suspicion.

The injured were identified as Mohsin Pradhan Rubel, 32, his wife Sadia Begum, 26, and their two sons, Sahen Pradhan, 6, and Sowad Pradhan, 3. Mohsin runs a grocery shop.

According to Sumaira, Mohsin’s niece, family members noticed a fire on a sofa in the dining room near the house’s entrance gate. Mohsin tried to extinguish the flames by pouring water on them, but the fire spread rapidly, leaving all four family members injured.

Sumaira said the family suspects that the fire may have been started through a window. They also suspect that a gunpowder-like substance may have been used because the flames spread quickly despite attempts to put them out. However, these remain unverified suspicions.

The injured were initially taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur before being transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

Hospital sources said Mohsin suffered burns to 1% of his body, while Sadia sustained burns to 40%. Their sons Sahen and Sowad suffered burns to 12% and 2% of their bodies, respectively.

All four are currently receiving treatment at the institute.

Inspector Md Habibur Rahman, in-charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital police camp, confirmed that the victims were undergoing treatment.

Officer-in-Charge of Gazipur Sadar Metro Police Station Md Aminul Islam said police visited the scene after receiving information about the fire.

“Legal action will be taken after an investigation if a complaint is filed,” he said.