Schoolgirl ‘burnt for stealing mobile phone’, dies

Class-V student Aziza, who was allegedly set on fire over the allegation of stealing a mobile phone in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi Friday night, succumbs to her injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on October 28, 2017. Photo: Courtesy

A schoolgirl, who was allegedly set on fire over the allegation of stealing a mobile phone in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi last night, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) this morning.  

Aziza Khatun, 13, a class-V student of Khainkut Government Primary School and daughter of Abdus Sattar in Khainkut village, was admitted to the burn unit of DMCH with 96 percent burn injuries and died around 5:00am, the hospital’s Resident Doctor Partha Sankar Pal told The Daily Star.

Beauty Begum, paternal aunt of Aziza, accused Aziza and her elder sister Mafia of stealing a mobile phone, which was stolen from her house eight days ago, reports our local correspondent.

Beauty along with her three-four associates picked up Aziza around 9:00pm yesterday when she was alone in her house, said victim’s mother Josna Begum.

They took her to a nearby place and set her on fire by pouring petrol.

Hearing her screams, her father, mother and relatives rushed to the spot and rescued the girl, said Josna.

Aziza was first taken to a local hospital and later shifted to DMCH as her condition deteriorated where she died, she added. 

Contacted, Shibpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Syeduzzaman said, “We will take legal action against the culprits.”

However, no case was filed till filing of this report around 4:00pm.