A 16-year-old schoolboy was critically injured after allegedly being stabbed by a senior student following a dispute over seniority outside Dholaipar High School in the capital on Saturday.
The injured student, Shahriar Sanju, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where he underwent emergency surgery after sustaining a stab wound to the abdomen.
According to classmates who took him to the hospital, the incident occurred around noon in front of the school after students had returned for a tree-planting programme following their morning classes and tiffin break.
They alleged that Najim Islam Joy, a Class X student of the same school, stopped Sanju on the road along with Muhin, a Class IX student, and Muhin’s cousin Mahim, who studies at another school.
Witnesses said Joy questioned Sanju over why he did not show him respect as a senior. The argument quickly escalated and Joy allegedly stabbed Sanju in the abdomen with a switchblade knife he was carrying.
The three accused fled the scene immediately after the attack, leaving Sanju seriously injured. His classmates rescued him and rushed him to DMCH.
Doctors at the hospital’s emergency department said Sanju suffered a stab injury to the right side of his abdomen and was in a critical condition. He was taken into emergency surgery.
Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Shyampur Police Station had been informed of the incident.
Police are investigating the stabbing and taking steps to identify and arrest those involved, he added.
