Girl, 13, dies 49 days after hot water was allegedly poured on her while asleep in Sonargaon

A 13-year-old girl, Afrin Akter, has died in Dhaka while under treatment, 49 days after hot water was allegedly poured over her body while she slept, in a dispute over land in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. She died at around 4:30 pm on Friday.

The allegation is against Afrin's aunt by marriage, Sonia Akter. In the case filed over the incident, police arrested Afrin's uncle Zakir Hossain, his wife Sonia Akter, and Mostafa, son of Billal Hossain of the Dudhghata area.

They were arrested on September 25 at noon from the Mangalergaon Kandapara area of Pirojpur union in Sonargaon upazila.

Police and local sources say Rowshan Ara of Kandapara village had a long-running land dispute with her younger brother Zakir Hossain, and quarrels and tension between the two families were frequent.

Rowshan Ara alleges that her brother's wife Sonia repeatedly threatened to kill them. On September 25 at noon, Rowshan Ara and other family members were away from home, and Afrin was asleep alone in the house.

It is alleged that, taking advantage of the family's absence, someone entered the room and poured hot water over the sleeping Afrin. Her waist and several other parts of her body were severely scalded.

Hearing Afrin's screams, neighbours rescued her. She was admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

After about a month of treatment there she was taken home. When her condition deteriorated, she died 49 days after the incident.

Sonargaon police officer-in-charge Mohammad Abdul Barik said the accused in the hot-water scalding case have been arrested and sent to court.