Teknaf, Bangladesh: A refugee child was stabbed by a local youth on November 30, at about 12:30 pm in a forest. The incident was a fall out of an earlier enmity, said a refugee leader on condition of anonymity.

The victim was identified as Abdul Hakim (2), son of Md. Hussain, MRC # 3,300 of Nayapara Burmese refugee camp.

The child was stabbed on his forehead by Afsar (30), son of Abul Khasim, a local youth from Leda village of Teknaf union in a nearby forest. The   child was taken there by two refugee girls Janat Ara (8), and Sara Khatun(8) of the camp. They were paid money by the culprit to take the child, but they were not aware of the incident, said another refugee leader.

Some boys saw the child lying on the ground in a pool of blood and rushed to the victim’s father and informed him.  The father rushed to the spot, and carried the son to Teknaf hospital. 

The Camp-in-Charge of the Nayapara Camp sent a letter to the Teknaf police station regarding the incident. But the victim’s father was afraid to go to the Teknaf police station for security reasons. So, he requested the Camp-in-Charge and UNHCR to give him security when he goes to the police station. But, he did not get any security, said a close relative of the victim.  

In 2004, Shashul Hudda, the younger brother of Afsar had raped Nur Begum (11), daughter of Ismail of the camp. The rape victim is the aunt of the stabbed boy.  Nur Begum’s brother had filed a case against the rapist at Teknaf police station. 

Afsar had threatened Nur Begum’s brother, and also  the father of Abdul Hakim for filing a case against Shmashul Hudda and was pressurizing him to withdraw the case. But, he did not withdraw the case, so, Afsar was angry. The rapist Shamshul Hudda was sentenced to life imprisonment, said a refugee master of the camp on condition of anonymity.