The child, Sumon, and his grandmother Achhia Begum, 50, are undergoing treatment at ward No. 33 of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). But hospital authorities refused to admit his aunt Jharna Begum, 20 on the grounds that her injuries were not serious.

They also refused to admit Achhia, too, but changed their mind on insistence by journalists

"I borrowed Tk 20,000 from my neighbour Akkas Ali 10 years ago, but failed to return the money in six months as agreed," Achhia said at the DMCH.

Later at an arbitration, they were given another date to pay the money back but failed this time too.

They said Akkas also refused to take money when they went to his house to give him the money seven years back.

"He demanded our tin-roofed, fenced house which stands on 11 kathas of land in Bhundakkhin village and continued to harass us on our refusal," Achhia said.

Akkas' men ransacked their house four years ago, they alleged. "Akkas came again 20/22 days ago and threatened me with throwing acid and said that he could not occupy the house only for me," she said.

"The six of us were sleeping on the floor in our room and at 1:30am today I woke up sensing movement of some people in the room and saw Akkas holding a pot in his hand. I also saw his elder brother Mohsin, father-in-law Fazlur Rahman and local acid seller Gaffar," Jharna said.

"As I moved, Akkas threw something from the pot and I felt my whole body was on fire."

Sumon's chest, throat, back and thighs were badly burnt. Jharna's left hand and leg and Achhia's face, shoulders, throat and thighs also suffered burn injuries.

After primary treatment at Singair Health Complex, they were taken to the DMCH at 2:30pm.