Two hacked, shot dead in broad daylight outside Khulna court, 1 injured

Unidentified gunmen launched a deadly assault today (30 November) that left two individuals dead just outside the Khulna District and Session Judges Court, causing panic in the area.

The victims, identified as Hasib Hawlader and Rajon, both residents of Khulna's Notun Bazar area, were fatally shot and then hacked with sharp weapons outside the court gate at around 12:15pm.

Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Khulna Sadar Police Station, said the victims were taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) after being shot, where doctors declared both of them dead.

The deceased, Hasib Hawlader, 45, son of Mannaf, from Notun Bazar Launchghat, Khulna Sadar, was a suspected drug dealer and a close associate of the suspected criminal Palash Bahini chief, Palash. The other deceased, Fazle Rabbi Rajon, 38, son of Ejaz Sheikh, from Bagmara Abdur Roub's intersection in Rupsha, Khulna, also had a criminal background.

Hasib and Rajon, had just finished attending a court hearing and were having tea after parking their motorcycle when suddenly, a group of assailants approached them on foot and opened fire. Photo: Focus Bangla

Another injured, Rumman, 30, son of Akhtar Gazi, from Putimari, Labanchara, is being treated in the surgery ward 2 at KMCH.

According to witnesses, Hasib and Rajon, out on bail in an arms case (Sonadanga Police Station Case No 29, dated 31/03/2025, under Section 19A of The Arms Act 1878), had just finished attending a court hearing. They were having tea after parking their motorcycle when suddenly, a group of four to five assailants approached them on foot and opened fire.

Even as the victims collapsed, wounded by gunfire, the attackers continued their assault, hacking them with cleavers before fleeing the scene.

Shakil Hawlader, brother of the deceased Hasib, said, "My brother was accused in an arms case a few days ago. He came to court today to attend a hearing for that case. We have no idea who carried out this attack or why."

Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Assistant Police Commissioner Shihab Karim stated, "The crime scene has been cordoned off. An investigation has begun to uncover who is involved in this attack and what their motive was."

Police said efforts are underway to collect CCTV footage from the court area, and technical analysis is being conducted to identify the perpetrators.