Published: 11:47 AM, 25 August 2026
Khulna turns into city of death
Khulna, once known as a city of peace, has now turned into a city of death. The residents of the city are in extreme panic and anxiety as 1-2 murders are happening every week.
Due to the rise in murders and terrorist activities, the local residents now feel unsafe.
In Khulna, two youths named Manjurul Islam (22) and Nazmul (18) were brutally murdered by miscreants by stabbing and shooting them in just three hours. The incident took place on Wednesday (August 19) evening in the area adjacent to Ashibigha culvert under the city's Labanchara police station. Among the deceased, Manjurul Islam (18) was stabbed and shot dead at around 6:30 pm. He was the son of Khokon Sana of the Ashibigha culvert area and worked as a centering mechanic.
After the mass uprising on August 5, 2024, terrorists have created a storm of unrest in that peace. Due to the clanging of weapons, control of the drug trade, extortion and expansion of dominance, Khulna has now become a sanctuary for terrorists.
According to Khulna residents and analysts, the real terrorists are remaining undetected in most cases. To make the city as peaceful and safe as before, it is essential not only to arrest common criminals, but also to stop the root cause of crime and conduct strong and coordinated operations by joint forces.
Police sources said that the list of 181 terrorists, 584 drug dealers and 69 extortionists in 8 police stations of the city has been finalized. In the police station-wise list, the highest number of terrorists is 45 in Luanthara police station. Khalishpur police station is in second place with 36 and Daulatpur police station is in second place with 31.
In addition, there are 27 terrorists in Sadar police station, 20 in Sonadanga, 15 in Arangghata, four in Harintana and two in Khan Jahan Ali police station. The list includes people accused of various serious crimes including murder. Businessmen and conscious citizens of the city alleged that after the news of the operation became public, many top terrorists have gone to safe haven. As a result, most of those being arrested at the field level are associates or low-level workers.
According to police information, 9 terrorist groups are active in Khulna city and its surrounding upazilas. These are Rony Chowdhury alias Grenade Babu's 'B-Company', Sheikh Palash's Palash Group, Humayun Kabir's Huma Bahini, Ashiq Bahini, Noor Azim Group, Tenki Shaon Group, Arman Sheikh's Arman Group, Shakil Sheikh's Shakil Group and Nasimul Goni's Nasim Group. Among these terrorist groups, Grenade Babu is the most deadly gang.
According to KMP data, a total of 31 murders occurred in Khulna metropolis from September 2024 to August 5 of this year. Of these, 13 murder cases were registered from August to December 2024. And at the beginning of this year, there were two murder cases in January, one each in February and March, two in April, five in May, three in June, two in July and two in August so far. Out of the eight police stations in the city this year, the first murder occurred in January in Khulna Sadar and Sonadanga Model Police Stations. Khulna Metropolitan City recorded the highest number of murders in May.
Khulna Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Media) Khandaker Hossain Ahmed said, "To ensure the safety of the people of Khulna, "We have strengthened patrols and set up special check posts in different parts of the city. In addition, most of the murders that are happening are target killings. We have arrested those involved in each incident within a short time."
"We are working to improve law and order. Recently, two murders have occurred in the city. Multiple police teams are investigating each incident. We hope that the accused will be arrested very soon", he added.
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