A woman and her eight-year-old niece were killed and her sister was critically injured after unidentified criminals set their bed on fire while they were asleep on Friday night in Bhola's Lalmohan upazila.

Surma Begum, 28, and Khadiza Aktar, 8, died of burn injuries while Angura Begum was critically burnt.

Angura alleged that Surma's husband Rafiqul Islam dug a tunnel under the wall of their earthen hut to get in and then poured petrol on the bed they were sleeping on and then set it on fire.

Lalmohan police said Rafiqul, who is from Borhanuddin upazila, had fled the area. 

Rafiqul and Surma used to live in a rented house in Lalmohan town after they got married about six months ago, Angura told reporters.

Rafiqul and Surma were unemployed and they constantly fought, said the woman now admitted at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal.

About 10 days ago, Surma came to Angura's home at Kharakandi village and started living with her, she said.

She claimed that Surma had no contact with her husband since she moved in with her.

She alleged that her sister often told her that Rafiqul tortured her. 

On Friday night, after their bed was set on fire, neighbours broke into their house and doused the fire hearing their screams for help.

Locals rushed them to Bhola Sadar Hospital where doctor pronounced Surma dead.

Angura and her daughter Khadiza were taken to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Khadiza died yesterday afternoon.

Moktar Hossain, superintendent of police in Bhola, said police teams were raiding different areas to arrest the suspect.