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A 35-year-old man died in hospital on Thursday after a group of unidentified people allegedly doused him with petrol and set him on fire in Muktagachha upazila of Mymensingh.
The victim, Farhad Hossain, son of Abdus Sattar of Madhyahishya area in Muktagachha municipality, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital around noon, said Kamrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Muktagachha Police Station.
According to his relatives, Farhad told them before his death that a group of people poured petrol on him and set him on fire around 10pm on Wednesday.
Police and relatives said Farhad had left his home at around 10pm. When he reached a secluded area, some people allegedly poured petrol on him from behind, set him on fire and fled. Farhad then jumped into a nearby waterbody in an attempt to save himself.
Hearing his screams, local residents rescued him and took him to Muktagachha Upazila Health Complex. As his condition deteriorated, doctors referred him to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where he later died.
Farhad was a vegetable seller and was involved in various social movements, including campaigns demanding employment opportunities for unemployed people. He had also announced his intention to contest the upcoming 13th parliamentary election.
His father said Farhad had organised various programmes against drug abuse and was involved in other social movements. He suspected that people with whom his son had disputes over these activities might have been behind the attack.
Police said they spoke to Farhad while he was receiving treatment and recorded his statement.
“Farhad said that after leaving home and reaching a secluded place, someone poured petrol on him from behind and another person set him on fire. However, he said he could not identify either of them,” OC Kamrul Islam said.
The officer said police were investigating the motive behind the attack. The body has been kept at the hospital morgue, and legal proceedings are underway.
