Boy killed in squabble over 'respect'

The prevailing teenage gang culture in the city has claimed another life.

A JSC examinee -- Md Hasan -- was stabbed to death in the capital's Chawkbazar area yesterday morning, over a fight stemming from earning “respect”, police said.

Hasan, 14, son of Muhammad Ali from Haji Rahim Box Lane of Posta, was an eighth grader of Islambagh Ideal School.

On Friday, Hasan went near Chandni Ghat Shishu Hospital just beside his house around 9:30pm, along with two friends. Ali, a seventh grader from another school, was sitting at a tea stall there with six to seven friends.

At one point, Ali called Hasan “disrespectfully” by using his name, triggering the clash, said Niloy Ahmed Sumon, an eyewitness.

“At one point of the argument, they pushed each other. Ali then suddenly stabbed Hasan with a sharp object and fled from the scene,” he added.

Hasan was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital soon after the incident, where he succumbed to his injuries around 5:00am, said assistant sub-inspector Shariful Islam of DMCH police outpost.

Ibrahim Khan, deputy commissioner of Lalbagh division, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed to The Daily Star that the clash happened over a senior-junior issue. Police detained Ali in this connection, he said.

The violent nature of these teenage gangs came to light after ninth grader Adnan Kabir was killed in Uttara in January this year. At least six other teenagers lost their lives in the capital apparently fighting for earning “respect” and establishing supremacy in local areas.