Two people were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Pabna’s Atikula upazila on Thursday evening, allegedly over a dispute concerning a market lease.
The incident occurred around 7pm at Pushpapara Bazar, said Pabna Superintendent of Police Abu Ashraf.
The deceased were Abdus Salam Haji, 55, the leaseholder of Pushpapara market, and his associate Ripon Hossain, 50.
Both were residents of Dharmagram village in Atikula.
According to police and local sources, two groups had been locked in a long-standing dispute over the market lease.
Salam Haji was sitting with his associates in the market’s office room when several masked men arrived, opened fire and fled.
Locals rushed the two men to Pabna General Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Speaking to reporters, SP Abu Ashraf said preliminary findings suggested that the killings were linked to a dispute over the market lease.
“Two people were shot dead. Police have reached the scene, and an investigation is underway to identify those involved,” he said.
The police chief added that further details would be available as the investigation progresses.
