A tranquil neighborhood in Shariatpur’s Naria upazila was plunged into chaos on Friday night after two brothers allegedly set fire to their own family home following a bitter dispute over money to fund their drug and gambling addictions. The incident took place in the Sabujbagh area of Ghorisar Union, leaving the victimised family destitute as the wooden and tin-roofed structure was reduced to ashes before firefighters could suppress the blaze.

The suspects, identified as Sohan Bepari and Imran Bepari, the younger sons of local resident Nasir Bepari, fled the scene immediately after committing the arson. Family members revealed that both siblings had been trapped in a spiral of substance abuse and illegal gambling for an extended period, frequently tormenting their parents for funds to finance their habits. Physical violence and property damage had reportedly become regular occurrences whenever their demands were met with resistance.

Financial strain had already brought the household to a breaking point prior to Friday’s catastrophe. Relatives recounted that Nasir Bepari had previously taken out a microcredit loan of 30,000 BDT to satisfy his sons’ demands, only for the duo to squander the entire sum on gambling and drugs. The father was left to bear the heavy burden of repaying the instalments through manual labour.

The immediate catalyst for the disaster occurred when the brothers demanded an additional 50,000 BDT loan from their father. When Nasir Bepari refused to comply, the siblings issued a stern ultimatum, threatening to set the property ablaze. True to their word, upon receiving a final refusal, they deliberately ignited their own living quarters and vanished into the night.

A crew from the Naria Fire Service arrived swiftly at the scene to tackle the inferno, but the flames had already engulfed the structure, destroying all household belongings. Al-Amin, the eldest brother of the accused, expressed desperation while recalling the ordeal, pleading with local authorities for an enduring solution to protect his elderly parents from further abuse.

Local administrative officials have reacted strongly to the incident. Naria Upazila Executive Officer (UNO), Md. Abdul Kaiyum Khan, confirmed the details of the event on Saturday, expressing deep regret over the escalating threat posed by addiction within the community. He assured the victimised family that strict legal action against the brothers is being initiated, alongside a targeted administrative crackdown against illicit gambling and drug networks across the upazila. Both suspects remain at large, with their mobile phones currently switched off.