The southwestern border district of Jashore is grappling with a surge in violent crime, as the proliferation of illegal firearms casts a dark shadow over the region’s stability. According to police data and local reports, the district has witnessed a staggering 243 homicides over the past four years. While various weapons have been employed, the increasing frequency of fatal shootings—particularly involving foreign-made pistols—has sparked deep-seated anxiety among residents and political candidates as national elections approach.
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The Lethal Prevalence of 7.65mm Pistols
A chilling trend has emerged in the forensics of these crimes. Out of 13 recorded shooting deaths, 10 were carried out using 7.65mm bore pistols. These firearms, often found with “Made in Italy” or “Made in USA” markings, are suspected by local authorities to be high-quality imitations manufactured in neighbouring border regions and smuggled into Bangladesh.
In the first week of January 2026 alone, two individuals were gunned down: Alamgir Hossain, a local BNP official, and Rana Pratap Bairagi, a businessman. Ballistic evidence from these scenes points squarely to the 7.65mm pistol, a weapon that has become the “signature” of organised crime in Jashore.
Homicide Statistics: A Four-Year Overview (2022–2026)
The following table illustrates the fluctuating but high rates of murder in the district, highlighting the persistence of gun-related fatalities.
| Year | Total Homicides | Deaths by Shooting | Notable Context |
| 2022 | 55 | 2 | Internal disputes and gang rivalry. |
| 2023 | 42 | 2 | Political and business-related friction. |
| 2024 | 83 | 4 | Peak in violence; rising border smuggling. |
| 2025 | 60 | 3 | Family feuds and territorial dominance. |
| 2026 (Jan only) | 3 | 2 | High-profile killings ahead of elections. |
| Total | 243 | 13 | — |
Motives Behind the Violence
While political affiliations often colour the headlines, police investigations suggest that the root causes of these murders are multifaceted. In 2025, for instance, the 60 recorded murders were attributed to:
Family Disputes: 12 cases
Territorial Dominance: 7 cases
Drug Trafficking Rivalries: 3 cases
Pre-existing Enmity: 4 cases
Land Disputes and Extramarital Affairs: 28 cases
The Policing Challenge and Political Outcry
Syed Rafiqul Islam, the Superintendent of Police (SP) for Jashore, maintains that law enforcement remains vigilant. Over the last year, 13 operations have resulted in the seizure of 19 foreign pistols, 4 local handguns, 290 rounds of ammunition, and several pipe guns. He asserted that most known terrorists are currently in hiding and that the police are capable of preventing any intimidation during the electoral period.
However, political figures are less optimistic. Anindya Islam, the BNP’s acting organising secretary for the Khulna division, criticised the police’s “lack of visible action,” urging more aggressive operations to recover illegal arms. Similarly, Iqbal Kabir Zahid, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Communist League of Bangladesh, expressed concern that firearms looted from police stations during recent civil unrest have yet to be fully recovered, posing a direct threat to the sanctity of the upcoming polls.
As the joint forces of the Army, RAB, and Police continue their sweeps, the people of Jashore remain on edge, hoping that the “culture of the gun” can be dismantled before more lives are lost to the 7.65mm bore.