OUR CORRESPONDENT, Cumilla

A hijra individual who was set on fire allegedly by her “guruma” (community leader) in Cumilla’s Burichang died under treatment yesterday.

The victim, Enamul Haque Shishir alias Mahi, had suffered severe burn injuries and died in the ICU of the National Burn Institute in Dhaka, said police.

Mahi’s father, Kamrul Haque Shohag, filed a murder case with Burichang Police Station naming three, including Dhopa Hijra Dola and Guruma Zahir, and seven-eight unidentified accused, confirmed Burichang Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lutfor Rahman.

He said police have arrested Dola alias Dhopa Hijra in connection with the killing.

According to the case statement, between 9:00pm and 10:00pm on Wednesday (May 13), Guruma Zahir and associates allegedly tied up Mahi in front of their akhra (community home) at Burichang Uttar Bazar. They then poured kerosene and set Mahi on fire.

Locals rescued Mahi and first took them to Cumilla Medical College Hospital. Later, Mahi was transferred to National Burn Institute in Dhaka where they died under treatment.

The family alleged that local police were initially unwilling to accept the case.