‘Someone set my son on fire and killed him’, says Chanchal Voumik’s mother

The recovery of a burned body from a garage in Narsingdi has triggered shock and suspicion, with family members alleging the death was a planned killing rather than an accident. The deceased was identified as Chanchal Voumik, 25.

Chanchal died after being severely burned while sleeping at a garage in Chinispur Union of Narsingdi Sadar upazila early Saturday. Police recovered the body from the spot and sent it to the Narsingdi Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

According to the family, Chanchal worked at the garage and slept there at night. They described the fire as highly suspicious.

Chanchal’s mother Babita Voumik, speaking through tears, said, “Someone set my son on fire and killed him. He had no enemies. His father died six months ago, and now my younger son is gone. My elder son is disabled and cannot work. Who will run the family now?”

Chanchal was the son of Khokon Voumik of Lakshmipur village in Barura upazila of Cumilla. After his father’s death six months ago, Chanchal became the family’s sole breadwinner. His mother Babita Voumik and disabled elder brother Ujjal Voumik live in the village home.

He had been working for seven years as an employee at Rubel Mia’s garage in the Dagaria area of Narsingdi, where he also stayed overnight. Locals said a fire broke out at the garage shortly before dawn on Friday. Fire service personnel brought the blaze under control, but Chanchal had already suffered fatal burns. Police recovered his charred body the following morning.

Chanchal’s co-worker Shanta Debnath, 22, said he had never heard of Chanchal having any enemies. He claimed CCTV footage showed an unidentified person gathering oil-soaked cloths and paper and setting fire in front of the garage shutter. As the entire garage contained oil residue, the fire spread rapidly and engulfed the sleeping Chanchal.

Garage owner Rubel Mia said he could not consider the incident an accident under any circumstances. “Planned or not, this is a killing. There is no one else in that family who can earn,” he said.

Chanchal’s body was taken to Cumilla on Saturday evening, and his last rites were held at a local crematorium on Sunday afternoon, January 25.

Locals noted that three tin-shed shops stand beside the Dhaka–Sylhet highway, with Rubel’s garage in the middle. The two adjacent shops, which deal with vehicle painting and spare parts, showed no signs of damage, further strengthening suspicions that the fire was not accidental.

Narsingdi Model Police Station officer-in-charge A R Al Mamun said the person involved has not yet been identified or arrested. RAB and DB are jointly working with police to track down the suspect, and the investigation is ongoing.