2, including minor, arrested after 9-year-old girl burned to death in Barishal

Police today (19 March) arrested two individuals in connection with the murder of a 9-year-old girl, Raisa Moni, who was burned to death in Babuganj upazila of Barishal.

The arrested individuals are Sifat, 12 and his father, Jalal Sikder.

Confirming the matter, Babuganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Ehteshamul Islam said, “Both were arrested early today and later produced before a court. The court ordered the minor to be sent to a juvenile correction centre in Jashore, while his father was sent to jail.”

Raisa died after being set on fire at her home in Dehergoti union under the upazila on 15 March, with the child saying before her death that the attack followed her refusal of an indecent proposal.

She was the daughter of Nazrul Islam and a third-grade student at a local madrasah.

According to relatives, the incident occurred when Raisa’s father had gone out for work, leaving her alone at home. Local said they rushed to the house after hearing her screams and found her engulfed in flames.

She was first taken to Babuganj Upazila Health Complex for primary treatment and later transferred to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. As her condition worsened, she was sent to Dhaka for advanced care.

Raisa died at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around 10:30pm the same night.

In a video recorded before her death, Raisa was heard saying, “Sifat told me to do bad things. Because I did not listen, Sifat set fire to my body.”