Schoolgirl 'set on fire for stealing mobile phone' dies

NARSINGDI, Oct 28: A 12-year-old schoolgirl who was allegedly set on fire by her aunt for 'stealing a mobile-phone set' in Khainput village under Shibpur upazila on Friday night died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Saturday. Aziza Begum, a class-V student and daughter of Abdus Sattar, was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where she died around 1:30am. Rehena Begum, mother of the victim, alleged that her sister-in-law, wife of Saudi-expatriate Abdus Salam, the younger brother of Abdus Sattar, beat up Aziza on accusation that she stole a mobile-phone set and threatened to burn her alive around 4pm on Friday. Later, hearing her groaning, neighbours rescued her with severe burn injuries. —UNB