8 Members of Two Hindu Families Narrowly Escape Death in Rauwzan Fire Attack

Melbourne, 24 December 2025: A shocking arson attack took place in Rauwzan, Chattogram, in the early hours of Monday, when two homes were deliberately set on fire after their doors were locked from the outside. The incident occurred around 3:45 am in West Sultanpur village under Ward No. 5 of Rauwzan Municipality. Eight people narrowly escaped death by breaking through bamboo and tin fences to get out of the burning houses.

The affected houses belong to Sukh Shil and Anil Shil, residents of Sultanpur village. Sukh Shil is a Dubai-based expatriate, while Anil Shil works as a day labourer. In total, eight members from the two families were inside the houses at the time of the attack.

According to the victims, everyone had gone to sleep after dinner. Suddenly, they woke up to flames and thick smoke. When they tried to flee, they found that both doors had been locked from the outside with metal hooks. With no way out, they broke through the bamboo and tin walls and managed to escape, saving their lives.

The burnt-out houses stand in ruins, with nothing left behind after the arson attack. Photo: collected

Anil Shil’s son, Mithun Shil, who works in Dubai, said he returned to Bangladesh three months ago and recently got married. The fire destroyed his passport, household furniture, and cash worth between Tk 80,000 and Tk 90,000, along with many other valuables. “When we rushed to the doors, we saw they had been locked from outside. We had no choice but to break the walls and escape,” he said.

Rauwzan Upazila Nirbahi Officer S M Rahatul Islam and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Angching Marma visited the site at around 10:30 am. They assured the families of government support and ordered an investigation. The Upazila administration provided the affected families with 25 kg of rice, Tk 5,000 in cash, and blankets as emergency assistance.

Rauwzan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sajedul Islam confirmed that the fire was deliberately set by criminals after locking the doors from outside. “The attackers used hooks to lock the doors and then set the houses on fire. The residents escaped by breaking through the fences. We are trying to identify and arrest those responsible,” he said.

This attack is part of a disturbing pattern of similar incidents in the area. Last Friday night, two houses belonging to Hindu families in Dheuyapara village under Ward No. 8 of Rauwzan Municipality were set on fire in the same manner. A day earlier, another house in Keutia Barua Para village of Sadar Union was also attacked. Police have filed cases against unidentified suspects in all these incidents.

The repeated nature of these attacks has created fear and insecurity among minority communities in the region.