A series of motorcycle-borne gun attacks has sparked fresh fear in Khulna, with criminals increasingly using the vehicles to carry out shootings and escape quickly, in scenes resembling those from crime films.
Police said motorcycles had been used in almost every armed attack and shooting reported in the city this year, apart from a few isolated incidents.
Criminals reportedly consider motorcycles a convenient means of transport because of Khulna’s geographical location and the availability of multiple escape routes, allowing them to evade law enforcement agencies.
Three people were shot in separate incidents over the past 24 hours, with attackers adopting similar tactics in each case.
On Tuesday, around 5:45pm, a Jubo Dal leader identified as Ohidul Islam Badal was seriously injured when unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire near Chakrakhali Bazar in Jalma union of Batiaghata upazila.
Earlier, around 11am, an employee of a private organisation was shot and robbed of his laptop bag in front of Nasim Traders in the city’s Nirala residential area.
Witnesses said the victim was preparing to mount his motorcycle after leaving his office when four assailants arrived on two motorcycles and opened fire on him.
In another incident shortly after midnight the previous night, Jubo Dal leader Sohel Sheikh was injured in a shooting in Batiaghata upazila.
Police said Sohel was sitting on a motorcycle in front of Bara Karia Government Primary School when armed assailants shot at him before fleeing on a motorcycle.
Similar attacks occurred on 24 October, when Inspector General of Police Mohammad Ali Hossain Fakir visited Khulna.
A Jubo Dal activist was shot that morning, while a grocery shopkeeper came under gunfire in the evening.
Later that night, a group of youths arrived on motorcycles, vandalised a private clinic and opened fire.
Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Detective Branch Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ahaduzzaman told TIMES that criminal gangs were using motorcycles to recruit young people from low-income and financially struggling families.
“Various criminal groups are giving motorcycles to young people from poor and disadvantaged families to recruit them and strengthen their gangs,” he said.
“In most cases, these motorcycles are privately owned, and their documents contain irregularities. We have also found stolen motorcycles being used in some incidents. Besides criminal activities, these vehicles are also used to transport drugs.”
Khulna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lokman Hossain said motorcycles allowed criminals to carry out attacks and escape quickly because of their small size, speed and the city’s numerous exit routes.
“Motorcycles are small and fast vehicles, and Khulna has several exit points. This makes it easy for criminals to commit offences and flee,” he said.
“However, we are carefully analysing CCTV footage from every incident before taking further legal action.”
He said police were conducting sudden raids in different areas to identify suspicious motorcycles and individuals and arrest suspected criminals.
Detective Branch Deputy Commissioner Ahaduzzaman said the special police operations would not be limited to routine checks of vehicle documents or identity cards.
Instead, suspicious riders and motorcycles would be taken into police custody for thorough questioning, he said.
