New York. May 4: The trial of a Bangladeshi immigrant. accused of setting his girlfriend on fire in September 1995. has finally got under way here, reports IANS.

Mohammed Mohsin, who has been accused of setting afire Syeda Sufian. also a Bangladeshi, on September 13. 1995. in their Queens home, is being tried at the Queens Criminal Court in New York. Sufian. 23. suffered more than 30 per cent burns and still has scars from the incident.

In his opening arguments on Monday. Queens Assistant District Attorney Devanand Singh, while addressing the predominantly male jury, described the burning as savage" and "coldblooded." He said that Mohsin had tried to kill his girlfriend. Syeda Sufian. when she had "outlived her usefulness" and threatened to spoil a marriage his family had arranged for him.

Sufian was not present during the hearing, but is expected to testify tomorrow. Mohsin's defence attorney.

Schreiber, denied the charges and described his client as the victim of an "obsessed" woman who set herself on fire, in order to commit suicide and blamed. Mohsin only after it became

clear that he would not marry

Mohsin, a computer technician from Bangladesh, has been charged with attempted murder and assault. He sat with an im-passionate expression on his face during the arguments, which lasted for a little more than an hour. He faces up to 25 years in jail if convicted.

The case has attracted a great deal of attention from South Asian women's organisations. particularly the New York-based Sakhi for South Asian Women. Several Sakhi members were on hand at the hearing and are expected to stay throughout the trial.