Shootings one after another in Khulna: from Botiaghata to Tutpara, killings, robberies and extortion spread fear across city and district
Shootings have been taking place one after another in Khulna city and district in recent times. No sooner do ordinary people hear of one shooting and catch their breath than another incident occurs. Political leaders and activists, teachers, a schoolgirl, women and pedestrians have all been among those shot, the report found.
Among the latest incidents, Jubo Dal leader Sohel was shot in Botiaghata on the night of 26 October, and former Jubo Dal leader Badal was shot in Botiaghata on the evening of 27 October. At noon on 27 October, Japan Tobacco employee Salman was shot and robbed in the city's Nirala area. The injured are admitted to hospital.
Earlier, on 22 October, two killings took place in Khulna on the same day. In the morning, Tawhidul Islam was shot dead by criminals in the Purba Baniakhamar area, and in the evening housewife Khushi Akter was shot dead in Jinnahpara. Police suspect both killings stemmed from drug-related feuds.
On 24 October, Terokhada Jubo Dal leader Ramim Biswas was shot. On the night of the same day, shots were fired in the air in front of Sandhani Clinic and Diagnostic Complex on Babu Khan Road in the city, after which the clinic was extensively vandalised.
At midnight on 18 October, a young man named Sheikh Jumman Rahman was shot at Amtala Mor in Tutpara; the criminals arrived on a motorcycle, shot him and snatched his mobile phone. Earlier still, on the evening of 3 July a class-ten schoolgirl (15) was shot on the embankment road at Natun Bazar in Rupsa, and on 2 July a young man named Ratul Sheikh was injured by criminals' gunfire at the Ashibigha sand field area under Labonchora police station.
According to Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP), more than 200 teen gangs were once active in the city. As many of those gang members have grown older, a section of them have joined various criminal groups, and new groups have also emerged.
Among this year's most discussed killings in the city is the triple murder at Darul Aman Mahalla in Sonadanga. On 30 May, police recovered the bodies of Baby Begum (55) and her two grandsons Shamim Byapari (13) and Mustakim (4) from a rented flat.
A series of killings in Rupsa upazila of the district has raised concern. On 5 October, Akter Dhali was shot dead in front of his home at Durjonimahal in Aichgati union. About a month and a half earlier, his son Joy Dhali had been hacked to death in the same area. On 15 August, two people were killed in Rupsa on the same day. Local residents allege that the use of weapons in the area is rising over drug dealing, extortion and struggles for dominance.
At around 9pm on 15 August, Akter Dhali's son Joy Dhali was hacked and his throat cut. Police said members of the 'Grenade Babu' group killed him. His mother Nasima Begum filed a case over the incident. It is alleged that pressure was applied to withdraw that case, and because it was not withdrawn, Joy Dhali's father Akter Dhali was killed 50 days after his son's murder.
More incidents have taken place around Rupsa. On the night of 9 October, criminals snatched police inspector Shah Alam's mobile phone and cash as he was returning to the city after an operation in Rupsa; afterwards the superintendent of police issued instructions advising officers not to go out alone except in urgent need, which drew discussion on social media. On 12 October, a house in Tutpara, Labonchora, was allegedly attacked and shots fired in the air after extortion money was refused. On 7 October, Mahidul Islam was shot near the second gate of Government BL College in Daulatpur. On the night of 17 October, a young man was shot and his mobile phone snatched at Amtala Mor in West Tutpara, and on 12 October more than five and a half bhori of gold ornaments were looted in Sonadanga after the housewife was rendered unconscious.
At an event in Maheshwarpasha, Daulatpur, on 7 October, National Parliament Whip Rakibul Islam Bokul warned against allowing terrorism, drugs and criminals to use political identities to spread influence. A few hours later, sub-registrar Tanmoy Kumar Mondal was taken away at gunpoint from the Sadar sub-registry office. He returned to his office about 40 minutes later. Although there was much discussion about why he was taken, he told journalists: 'There was just something to discuss, so I went.'
Extortion demands have allegedly reached businesses as well. Abdul Hakim, owner of a diagnostic centre on Khanjahan Ali Road in the city, said a call came from a number on 21 September. The person at the other end said: 'I am Grenade Babu's man. You will pay one lakh taka this month. Otherwise keep your business shut.' He said he did not go to the police station over the matter.
Kudrat-e-Khuda, Khulna district general secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN), said the law and order situation has deteriorated because of shortcomings in the police's performance of duty. In his words, Khulna was once a peaceful city; the killings and shootings now happening one after another are unimaginable — one cannot catch one's breath after hearing one piece of news before another incident occurs.
Jabed Hossain, general secretary of Rupsa upazila BNP, said killings are rising over trivial incidents. In his words, Rupsa upazila is a sanctuary for terrorists, he feels unsafe moving around, the police are not working as they should, and public trust is being lost. Professor Dr Abdullah Abu Sayeed, head of the sociology department at Khulna University, said the country's current political instability is affecting the law and order situation, and a far-sighted and effective role is needed to overcome it.
On Khulna's law and order situation, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir said some criminals are being killed and some criminals are killing, which has created panic among people. He said that when enforcing the law, police sometimes hear demands to use force, while using force gets them called fascist, and not using force gets them called weak. In his words: 'Everyone together must work through an effective police force to establish peace in society, establish justice, and make it corruption-free.'
In reply to another question, the IGP said what society was like after 5 August 2024 must be taken into account; at that time there was no police and terrorist activities were taking place in various places. He said: 'Now the police have turned around with morale. Police activities are being carried out everywhere. Not all problems will change overnight. The situation has now improved.'
