A Jahangirnagar University (JU) student died on Monday morning after being critically injured in a house fire in Ashulia, Savar.
Saiful Islam Roni, 26, along with four others, was caught in the blaze, which later claimed his life. Roni died at 9:30am at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where he had been receiving treatment, confirmed the institute’s resident doctor, Shawon Bin Rahman. Around 30 percent of his body had been burnt in the fire.
The fire broke out on the night of 27 January around 9pm. Alongside Roni, the blaze critically injured another JU student, Saiful Islam, 28, a university professor’s driver Md Hasinur, 26, and his two brothers, Raihan and Rahat.
According to Roni’s brother, Masud Rana, and friends, Roni had completed his master’s from Jahangirnagar University. He was also a member of the student body’s convener committee and joint general secretary of Dhaka district North, and lived in the university hall.
Rana said the fire erupted at a house in Islamnagar 6 No. Lane, Ashulia, where Raihan and his brother Rahat lived. A family dispute between the two brothers escalated, prompting Roni to intervene. During the altercation, Raihan reportedly poured petrol inside the house and set it on fire.
The fire quickly engulfed the building, trapping Roni and the others. Neighbours rushed to the scene, doused the flames, and took the injured to a local hospital. Roni and Hasinur were later moved to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, while Raihan and Rahat were transferred to a private hospital in Mohammadpur.
