Former Labour Leader Brutally Assassinated Before Daughter’s Eyes

In a chilling display of public violence that has sent shockwaves through the coastal city, a former labour leader was shot and hacked to death in the presence of his young daughter on Wednesday evening. The victim, Meena Masum Billah, the former president of the Rupsha-Bagerhat Inter-District Road Transport Workers’ Union, was targeted while shopping for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr festivities.

The Execution at Dak Bungalow

The incident occurred at approximately 21:00 at the bustling Dak Bungalow intersection in the heart of Khulna. Eyewitnesses reported that Billah was inside a well-known footwear outlet with his daughter when a group of seven armed assassins stormed the premises. The assailants initially opened fire, leaving Billah incapacitated on the floor. To ensure his death, the attackers then used sharp blades to hack at his legs and torso before fleeing the scene.

The sudden eruption of gunfire and the subsequent brutality caused immediate panic. The Dak Bungalow area, typically teeming with shoppers during the pre-Eid rush, ground to a halt as shops were shuttered and terrified civilians fled for safety.

Incident Summary and Law Enforcement Response

Apprehension and Military Intervention

In a rare display of public courage, onlookers pursued the fleeing gang, managing to intercept and restrain one individual, identified as Ashok Ghosh. A foreign-manufactured pistol was recovered from his possession. As word of the assassination spread, an incensed mob gathered outside the shop where Ghosh was being held, demanding that he be handed over for “vigilante justice.”

The situation escalated beyond the control of local police units, necessitating the intervention of the Bangladesh Army. Military personnel eventually cleared the streets and secured the suspect, transferring him into police custody for interrogation.

Motives and Investigations

Meena Masum Billah, a resident of the Bagmara area in Rupsha, was the brother of the late Meena Kamal (alias ‘Fatakeshto’), a former Union Parishad chairman. Initial police assessments suggest a meticulously planned execution. Investigators are currently exploring several motives, including long-standing political feuds, internal disputes within the transport labour unions, or a struggle for territorial dominance.

The Deputy Commissioner (South) of Khulna Metropolitan Police, Mohammad Tajul Islam, confirmed that Billah was declared dead upon arrival at the Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) emergency department. “We have one suspect in custody and are conducting raids to apprehend the remaining six,” he stated.

As the city of Khulna mourns, the horrific nature of the crime—perpetrated in front of a child during a season of peace—has left the community demanding swift and exemplary justice.