Hazaribagh schoolgirl killing: Suspect held, police cite romantic relationship dispute as motive

A schoolgirl was stabbed to death by her alleged former boyfriend in Dhaka's Hazaribagh area, with police saying the murder stemmed from a dispute in their romantic relationship.

According to police, the victim, Shahriar Sharmin Binti, a ninth-grade student of Rayer Bazar High School, had been in a relationship with Siam, also known as Emon, a school dropout who previously studied at the same institution.

"Siam and Binti were previously in a relationship, which had recently deteriorated. The suspect reportedly suspected that Binti had become involved in another relationship," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ramna Division) Md Masud Alam while speaking at a briefing at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Centre today (26 February).

"He had brought the knife with the intention of killing her, although he may have initially intended to resolve the dispute through conversation," he added.

The two had been in a relationship for around four years before tensions and disagreements developed between them, he said, adding that the suspect called Binti around 9:30pm yesterday and asked her to come out of her house.

He then allegedly stabbed her with a sharp knife on a paved road in front of Charkaghatta area under Hazaribagh Police Station, leaving her critically injured.

Locals rescued her and took her first to Sikder Medical College Hospital and later to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Following the incident, the victim's father, Md Billal Hossain, filed a murder case with Hazaribagh Police Station.

Police arrested Siam around 10:15am today from his residence in the Kathalbagan area under Kalabagan Police Station.

During the arrest, police recovered the blood-stained knife believed to have been used in the killing, as well as blood-stained clothing and a mobile phone, said DC Masud.