Rezwana Dil Afroz, a 22-year-old woman from Rangpur’s Mahiganj area, died on June 13, 2025, at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, four days after she was allegedly set on fire by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands. Her death has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for justice against dowry-related violence.
According to her family, Rezwana had endured repeated abuse since her marriage to Rezaul Karim three years ago. Though her family had already paid Tk 5 lakh in dowry, further demands followed. On June 5, she was reportedly assaulted again, and on June 8, she was allegedly doused in kerosene and set ablaze by her husband and in-laws. Instead of taking her to the hospital immediately, they locked her inside and later claimed it was a suicide attempt.
Rezwana was first taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka, where she died from her injuries. She leaves behind a one-and-a-half-year-old son. A murder case has been filed against five individuals, and police have arrested three so far. Women’s rights organizations are demanding swift and decisive action, as this tragedy highlights the persistent and deadly impact of dowry practices in Bangladesh.
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