Khulna police investigate potential criminal group ties in BNP leader murder
Photo Collected
Khulna police are investigating potential links between a local criminal syndicate and the fatal shooting of BNP leader Rafiqul Islam, as authorities consider the possibility that the politician may not have been the intended target. Islam, a member of the Batiaghata Upazila BNP convening committee, was killed on Friday afternoon while at the Kazipara market in the city’s Labanchara area.
According to police and local sources, the victim, widely known as “Dhakaiya Rafiq,” was standing near his home when a helmeted assailant on a motorcycle approached and fired a single shot into his abdomen before fleeing the scene. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Islam was pronounced dead upon arrival.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Investigators suggest that the motive behind the murder is unlikely rooted in political or business disputes. Instead, the focus has shifted toward the involvement of local criminal factions. Sources close to the investigation indicate that a family member of the deceased had previous associations with a prominent criminal group, which later led to conflicts involving drug trafficking. It is believed that Islam had attempted to distance his family from these elements, and authorities are currently examining if the assailant’s primary target was actually the relative who was standing alongside Islam at the time of the attack.
Additional Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police, Mohammad Rashidul Islam Khan, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that detectives are currently vetting multiple leads. He expressed confidence that the perpetrators would be identified and brought to justice in the near future. While no formal case had been registered as of Saturday evening, officials confirmed that the legal process was underway following the victim’s burial.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The incident has raised broader concerns regarding public safety in the region. Investigators are also looking into whether there is a connection between this murder and the shooting of two Juba Dal activists in Batiaghata last May. The killing of the BNP leader fits a broader, alarming pattern of violence in the district, where law enforcement officials have identified nine active criminal syndicates. Reports indicate that at least 34 murders since the recent political transition have been linked to these groups, with most incidents attributed to turf wars over illegal drug trade, extortion, and long-standing rivalries.
Reflecting on the loss, the victim’s wife, Rina Begum, expressed skepticism regarding the judicial process, noting that the area has a history of unresolved violent crimes. She emphasized her primary concern remains the safety of her two sons, pleading for protection as she expressed fears that those responsible might evade accountability.
0%
0%
0%
0%
