Abdul Malek, 27, resident of Jasim Uddin Road in Uttara, is now undergoing treatment at the Burns and Plastic Surgery unit of the hospital with appalling burns all over his body.

His family is struggling to bear the medical expenses. The black cab that was the only source of income for the nine-member family, went up in flames as the pickets on Sunday set fire to it during hartal hours in the city.

"I was returning from Pagla in Narayanganj where I drove a passenger on Saturday night. A picket posing as a passenger flagged me down at around 7:00am at Fakirapool," Malek told The Daily Star.

The moment he pulled in, the youth poured petrol all over the cab.

"As I tried to speed off, someone from behind set light to the car," he said in a choked voice.

Malek could not leave the blazing car immediately and suffered a number of severe burns.

He had bought the car for Tk 5.25 lakh that was borrowed from a bank. He has yet to repay Tk 1,30,000 of the loan.

"I could not pay the last month's instalment [Tk 11,500] and so I was desperate to make some money on the hartal day. But something else was in my stars and it all left me a penniless," Malek said as his eyes filled with tears.

The family had to spend Tk 12,000 alone on Sunday for his treatment. Doctors in DMCH suggested that it might take over Tk 1 lakh more if he has to survive.

Abdul Nur Khokon, who is taking care of his nephew, said the family has been in dire straits since the incident.