A Union Parishad (UP) member and his sister-in-law were hacked to death allegedly by some unidentified assailants on Friday night in Indurkani Upazila of Pirojpur.
The UP member’s wife sustained critical injuries in the attack, police said.
The deceased were identified as Shahidul Islam, 50, and Mukuli Begum and the injured was Shahidul’s wife, Rehana Begum.
Shahidul Islam is the younger brother of Moniruzzaman Selim Howlader, general secretary of the Indurkani Upazila unit Awami League and former convener of Indurkani Upazila unit Swechchhasebak League.
According to Maruf Hossain, officer-in-charge of Indurkani Police Station, the incident occurred around 11:30pm in West Charbaleswar village of Chandipur Union of the upazila.
He said that Shahidul was attacked by unidentified assailants near a pond ghat close to his residence. When Mukuli Begum tried to help Shahidul, she was also assaulted and killed.
Hearing their screams, Rehana Begum rushed to assist and was subsequently injured by the attackers, who fled the scene afterward.
Locals informed the matter to the police, who rescued Rehana and took her to Pirojpur District Hospital for treatment.
According to locals, Shahidul had been in hiding after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, following the filing of three cases against him with Indurkani Police Station.
He was arrested several months ago but released on bail two months prior and had since been at home due to illness.
OC Maruf said being informed police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies, collected evidence from there and launched an investigation.
The injured have been sent to the hospital, he added.
He said efforts are underway to apprehend those responsible, and legal action will be taken accordingly, the official added.