Shopkeeper fatally stabbed following dispute over '2 unpaid cigarettes' in Munshiganj

A youth succumbed to his injuries today (30 May) after being stabbed in a dispute over two "unpaid cigarettes" in Munshiganj.

The incident occurred in the sadar upazila's Charkewar union on Wednesday (28 May), police said.

The deceased - identified as Mahim Sarker (20), son of Sabuj Sarker from Baghaikandi area – was the owner of a grocery shop.

According to local union parishad member and Mahim's cousin Rakib Hossain Rocky, he passed away around 1:30pm while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka's Kakrail after being on life support for two days.

Police have arrested Naeem Sarker, 26, of the same area, in a case filed by Mahim's father over the incident with the Munshiganj Sadar Police Station. He has been sent to jail.

Munshiganj Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Saiful Alam told The Business Standard that initially, a case of attempted murder was filed against two people. "With Mahim's death, the case will now be converted into a murder case."

"Tension is high in the area, and additional police have been deployed to maintain law and order," he added.

According to the case document, in the early hours of Wednesday when Mahim, who was sleeping in his grocery shop, confronted Naeem for taking two cigarettes without paying.

The dispute escalated, and later that day, around 3pm, as Mahim and his father were on their way to Naeem's house following a threat over phone, Naeem allegedly attacked Mahim with a knife, severely injuring his chest.

Mahim was initially taken to Munshiganj General Hospital, then to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and finally to the private hospital in Kakrail, where he died today.