Chattogram descended deeper into violence Thursday night, with three men brutally murdered in just three hours, marking a terrifying escalation that has claimed nine lives in just seven days.
The port city, now gripped by a palpable sense of fear, is confronting a surge in killings that has stretched law enforcement to its limits and left residents questioning their safety.
The latest murder occurred around 1am on Friday in the Kosai Para area of Enayet Bazar, where 26-year-old mobile phone service businessman Akash Ghosh was stabbed to death while demanding owed money.
According to his family, Akash had repaired a phone display for a man named Sunny, who later refused to pay. When Akash approached him with the demand, Sunny and several accomplices attacked him, stabbing him multiple times.
Around 11pm on Thursday, 40-year-old Abdul Mannan, vice-president of the Sarafbhata Union Shramik Dal, a front organisaiton of BNP, was shot dead while returning home on a motorcycle in Rangunia’s Sarafbhata Union.
Police sources said Mannan, a returned expatriate, was involved in several businesses, and the killing is believed to be linked to local political rivalries. Mannan sustained four gunshot wounds near his left eye, left hand, and right side of his abdomen.
Earlier on Thursday night in Fatikchhari, 32-year-old electrician Abdullah Al Masud was allegedly called out from his home and beaten to death with iron rods and sticks.
He died in a private hospital in Chattogram around 10:30pm. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.
The bodies of Akash, Mannan, and Masud have been kept at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for autopsy.
Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Abdul Karim said, “A crackdown has been launched immediately after the incidents. Investigation is underway to identify the perpetrators, who will soon be brought to justice.”
Nayon, who was with Mannan prior to the attack, said, “We had attended a cousin’s wedding the previous night. Mannan suddenly left the wedding to visit the market. Later, we learned he had been shot. We met a local UP member at the scene to gather information. We are now living in fear and demand a proper investigation and justice.”
Local resident Mohammad Rasel said Mannan was not involved in any known conflicts and regularly participated in election campaigns of BNP-nominated MP candidate Hummam Quader Chowdhury, son of former BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.
Police said they are investigating the motive behind Mannan’s killing and are working to identify and arrest those responsible.
The recent spate of murders also includes incidents in Hathazari, Madunaghat, and Fatikchhari, where several unidentified bodies were recovered from rivers, ponds, and roadsides between 5 and 12 November.
Earlier, on 5 November, Sarwar Babla was killed during the election campaign of BNP candidate Ershad Ullah in Chalitatali, Chattogram-8 constituency.
The wave of violence has left residents of Chattogram on edge, as law enforcement agencies struggle to contain the escalating killings.
