An intoxicated youth named Suman Miah allegedly poured petrol over a grocery and bottled-petrol trader, Md. Khalilur Rahman (45), and set him ablaze using a matchstick in Kendua, Netrokona.
The terrifying incident occurred at around 10:55 PM on Thursday (October 1, 2026) at Sahitpur Bazar in the Sandikona Union of Kendua Upazila, Netrokona. The burn victim, Khalilur Rahman, son of Sultan Miah from Chengjana village, has been running a business at the market for a long time. The accused, Suman Miah, is the son of the late Kadenamaj from the same village.
According to eyewitnesses and local shopkeepers, Khalilur Rahman was busy auditing accounts in his shop on Thursday night. At that time, an intoxicated Suman Miah entered the shop and picked up a two-liter bottle of petrol kept for sale. When Khalilur intervened, Suman grew furious, instantly poured the petrol over Khalilur’s body, set him on fire with a matchstick, and fled the scene.
As flames quickly engulfed Khalilur’s body and spread across the shop, night guards and neighboring locals rushed to the scene upon hearing his screams. They managed to douse the fire and prevent the store structure from total destruction, though the merchandise inside was gutted to ashes. Rescuers rushed Khalilur in critical condition to the Kendua Upazila Health Complex at around 11:30 PM. As his health deteriorated, he was initially transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital and later shifted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka early Friday morning (October 2, 2026), where doctors described his condition as critical.
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kendua Police Station stated that police promptly visited the scene and collected evidence. Multiple police teams have launched drives to arrest the culprit, Suman, while the victim’s family is preparing to file a formal case.
