On Sunday (30 November) at 12:10 pm, two people were shot dead outside the Khulna District Judge Court. They were also attacked with machetes following the shooting.
The deceased have been identified as Fazle Rabbi Rajon (38) and Hasib (45). They had appeared in court for an arms case. Police stated that both were accused in multiple cases and were active members of Khulna’s top terrorist group, the Polash Bahini.
Many people were present on the courthouse balcony during the attack. One witness captured the entire incident on a mobile phone. Video footage obtained by the media shows a man lying against the courtyard wall while another person strikes him repeatedly with a machete. Several armed youths were standing nearby. After confirming the deaths, the attackers fled in a group along the eastern road.
According to police and eyewitnesses, Fazle Rabbi Rajon, son of Ejaz Sheikh from Purbo Rupsha Bagmara, and Hasib, son of Abdul Mannaf from the city’s New Bazar area, had arrived at the Khulna Metropolitan District Judge Court to appear in a Sonadanga police station arms case.
As they were boarding a motorcycle after their court appearance, 10 to 12 assailants opened fire and struck them repeatedly with machetes. Locals rushed them to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. The bodies have been sent to the hospital morgue for post-mortem.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Media) T.M. Rokonuzzaman confirmed their deaths.
Police investigations reveal that on 30 March this year, a shootout occurred between joint forces and the Polash Bahini in the Arambag area of Sonadanga, Khulna city. Fazle Rabbi Rajon and 11 others were arrested at that time. Hasib was later named as an accused in the same case.
Officer-in-Charge of Khulna Sadar Police Station, Md. Shafikul Islam, stated that Rajon and Hasib had served nearly six months in prison and had been released on bail just two and a half months ago. Both faced six ongoing cases related to murder, arms, and drugs. They were active members of the city’s top terrorist group.
A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, stated that there have been open conflicts between the Polash Bahini and B Company over drugs and territory. Several members from both groups have been killed, and violent incidents have even occurred between the two groups in prison.
SS