A teenage madrasah student was murdered in his sleep in Noakhali’s Sonaimuri upazila allegedly by a fellow student early Monday.
Police have detained the 16-year-old suspect immediately after the incident, Sonaimuri Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Khorshed Alam confirmed.
The incident took place around at the residential dormitory of Batara Al-Madrasatul Islamia Makhfunul Ulum in Ward 6 of Sonaimuri municipality.
The victim was identified as 13-year-old Nazim Uddin, hailed from Jahanabad village in Chashirhat union.
According to police and local sources, both students were resident learners at the madrasah. Abour two weeks ago, the duo had an argument over wearing a prayer cap. A teacher mediated and resolved the quarrel, but resentment reportedly lingered.
Investigators said the accused, still angered by the dispute, bought a knife from Sonaimuri Bazar for Tk 300.
On Sunday night, when all the students and teachers went to bed, the accused woke up and slit Nazim’s throat while he was asleep. The victim’s gasping sounds alerted others in the room, who woke up to find the scene.
OC Khorshed Alam said, “Police rushed to the scene at dawn. We have taken the accused into custody and recovered the knife used in the murder. The killing appears to have been triggered by the earlier dispute over a prayer cap.”
The body was sent to the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital morgue after formal procedures.
Police say they are investigating further motives behind the shocking inside the educational institution.
