Gopal Ghosh, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), set fire to her wife Seema Rani Ghosh, 22, after pouring kerosene on her body at their residence at Shantibagh at around 9:30pm on November 25 for her refusal to give Tk 1.20 lakh as dowry, said the victim's family members.

"Gopal who killed my daughter wanted to buy a motorbike with the money," said Shankar Chandra Ghosh, father of the victim, while talking to The Daily Star.

Seema, mother of one-year-old infant, was married to Gopal in 2003. He frequently threatened her for dowry, said the family members.

"I gave Gopal Tk 2 lakh in cash along with other valuables worth Tk 4 lakh at the time of marriage, but he still tortured her," said Seema's father in an emotion-choked voice.

Shankari Ghosh, mother of the victim, told the reporters that Seema's in-laws had warned her earlier that her daughter might get killed in case of the failure to provide them with the money.

Seema, who was undergoing treatment at the burn and plastic surgery unit at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital with burns covering 90 percent of her body, breathed her last at around 6:00am.

Gopal had been absconding since the incident.

A murder case was filed with Motijheel Police Station in this connection.