A gang of armed miscreants launched a broad-daylight attack on New Apollo Diagnostic and Consultation Centre at 275 Khanjahan Ali Road in Khulna city on Saturday at around 12:50pm. Although the rampage caused extensive damage to the facility, no casualties were reported.
However, the continuous spree of armed violence targeting healthcare establishments within a short span has triggered widespread panic among medical practitioners and local residents.
According to eyewitnesses, five armed youths wielding Chinese hatchets stormed into the diagnostic centre abruptly at 12:50pm. Before anyone on the premises could comprehend the situation, the assailants began hacking indiscriminately with their sharp weapons. The attack completely destroyed the reception counter, front glass door, two air-conditioning units, and a television set. Before fleeing the scene, the attackers also snatched a mobile phone valued at approximately Tk30,000 from an employee.
Jahid Hossain, manager of New Apollo Diagnostic and Consultation Centre, revealed that he had received a threatening phone call about a month prior from individuals identifying themselves as a gang from the Tootpara area. The armed assault took place exactly one month after that threat call. Upon receiving news of the incident, a team from Khulna Sadar Police Station promptly arrived at the location and collected CCTV footage as evidence.
Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Lokman Hossain Ripon confirmed that several criminals involved in the attack were identified from the CCTV footage. The suspects belong to a local terror gang and were recently released on bail. The OC added that multiple police teams are currently conducting drives to arrest the culprits, although the facility’s management has not yet lodged an official complaint.
This latest incident marks a worrying escalation of terror gang activities aimed at Khulna’s healthcare sector. On the night of 24 October, miscreants vandalised Sandhani Diagnostic Centre on Babukhan Road and fired gunshots to instil fear. The following day (25 October), an armed group raided the second branch of Sandhani Diagnostic Centre in Sonadanga, holding duty doctors at gunpoint.
On 3 November, Abdullah Diagnostic Centre on Samsur Rahman Road was similarly attacked. The assault on New Apollo Diagnostic Centre occurred just four days later, posing grave questions regarding the overall law and order situation in the city.
Police highlighted that a major obstacle to legal action is the reluctance of victims and facility owners to file formal cases. The attacks are being executed by various criminal groups, and the absence of official complaints creates complexities in advancing legal proceedings.
The reign of terror extends beyond medical facilities into other commercial sectors in Khulna. On 29 October, the traditional Chinese Palace restaurant was attacked simply because a phone call was left unanswered.
On the same day, the traditional Chayonika Pharmacy located at the Tootpara Central Road intersection was forced to shut down following extortion demands and remains closed. Earlier, on 24 October, Dhananjay, a college teacher from South Tootpara, was shot at his own shop in the Gachtala area after refusing to pay extortion money.
This relentless wave of armed violence and extortion has left Khulna’s private healthcare and commercial sectors gripped by intense anxiety and panic.
