The accused siblings, identified as Sohan Bepari and Imran Bepari, are sons of local resident Nasir Bepari. Both men fled the scene immediately after setting the property alight and remain at large as law enforcement agencies initiate a search operation.

Family members and local residents revealed that Sohan and Imran had been struggling with severe addiction to illegal narcotics and online or local gambling for an extended period. To fund their habits, the brothers routinely subjected their elderly parents to physical assault, verbal abuse, and property damage whenever their monetary demands were turned down.

Desperate to appease his sons and avoid ongoing domestic violence, Nasir Bepari had previously taken out an instalment loan of 30,000 taka to give them. The brothers squandered the entire sum on gambling and narcotics within days, leaving their father to struggle with repayment.

The conflict escalated on Friday when the duo demanded an additional 50,000 taka loan from their father. When their parents stood firm in their refusal, the brothers threatened arson and subsequently set fire to their living quarters.

Alarmed by rising smoke, neighbours alerted the Naria Fire Service and Civil Defence. A firefighting crew arrived promptly and brought the blaze under control, though the dwelling was completely destroyed.

The eldest brother, Al-Amin, voiced the family’s helplessness, explaining that his parents had suffered persistent extortion and harassment at the hands of the pair. Local authorities have stepped in to investigate the arson, with Naria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Abdul Kaiyum Khan condemning the act and assuring stringent administrative action against drug abuse in the region.