At least six people have been killed in Khulna and its adjoining areas in the first 20 days of August, fuelling growing fear among residents and raising concerns over the city’s deteriorating law and order situation.
The killings, along with several shooting incidents and other cases of violence, have left residents worried despite regular drives by law enforcement agencies to recover illegal arms and drugs and arrest suspected criminals.
Investigators said most of the recent killings appear to be linked to drug trafficking and disputes over territorial control among criminal groups.
Police suspect that criminals often flee to neighbouring districts soon after carrying out killings or shootings, making their identification and arrest difficult.
Locals have also alleged that some accused secure bail soon after their arrest and later return to criminal activities. Members of civil society have called for stronger action by both law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to curb the rising crime.
The latest incident was reported on Thursday, when police recovered the floating body of an unidentified young woman from a river near Botiyaghata Bazar in Botiyaghata upazila.
Earlier, on August 11, Fakhrul Sheikh, a Jubo Dal activist, was shot dead inside a brick kiln in Kismat Khulna village under Naihati Union of Rupsha upazila.
On August 15, Joy Dhali, 25, was hacked to death and had his throat slit in the Durjoni Mahal-Shahider Mor area of Aichgati Union in Rupsha.
On August 18, Raju Shikdar was beaten to death in the Rayermohol area under Aranghata police station in Khulna city.
The same day, Mamun Mir, 35, was shot by unidentified assailants in front of a school for people with disabilities in Naihati village of Rupsha at around 9:40pm.
Mamun, the eldest son of the late Niamat Ali Mir of Bagmara village, was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital before being referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment.
His family said he underwent surgery on Wednesday, but his condition has not improved. He is currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and is being kept under close observation.
The situation worsened on the night of August 19 when two young men were killed within about three hours near the Ashibigha culvert in the Labanchara area.
Manjurul Islam, 22, was stabbed and shot at around 6:30pm. He was the son of Khokon Sana of the Ashibigha area and worked as a centring mason.
Shortly afterwards, 18-year-old Nazmul was also shot dead in the same area.
Labanchara police station Officer-in-Charge Syed Mosharraf Hossain said police had launched an operation to identify and arrest those involved.
“The exact motive and identities of those involved will be known after the investigation,” he said.
The officer said police initially suspected that the killings could be linked to a dispute over a football match held at an open field in the Ashibigha area.
However, he said the actual motive would be confirmed after the investigation.
Khulna Sadar Assistant Police Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said the bodies of the two youths had been recovered from the Labanchara area.
“Police operations to arrest those responsible are continuing,” he said.
Expressing concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, Advocate Babul Howlader, member secretary of the Khulna Citizens’ Society, said fear had gripped the city.
He called for Khulna to be declared a high-risk area and urged the deployment of special forces.
He also called for suspected criminals to be identified and arrested and for illegal firearms to be recovered through intensified operations.
According to Khulna Metropolitan Police, 42 murder cases were filed in the metropolitan area between September 2024 and September 30, 2025. Police arrested at least 150 accused in connection with those cases, while accused persons in 14 cases reportedly made confessional statements before courts under Section 164.
The number of murder cases was 19 between September 2023 and August 2024, according to KMP data.
The sharp rise in killings and other violent incidents has heightened public concern, with residents demanding sustained law enforcement operations to restore security in Khulna.
