Drug Trader Killed in Koyra Attack

A violent night-time intrusion in Koyra Upazila of Khulna district has left a local pharmaceutical trader dead and his wife injured after unidentified assailants reportedly dug through the floor of their home to gain entry before carrying out a brutal knife attack.

The victim, identified as Bhabotosh Mridha (40), a medicine shop owner at Gilabari Bazar, was attacked at his residence in Maheshwaripur village under Maheshwaripur Union. He was the son of the late Jasho Mridha. His wife, Biva Mridha, sustained injuries during the incident.

According to local accounts, the attack took place between 2:30 am and 3:00 am on Sunday night. The assailants are believed to have dug a hole through the rear portion of the house, entering the premises while the family was asleep. Neighbours later discovered a large excavated opening behind the house, with scattered soil suggesting forced entry.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as cries for help echoed through the neighbourhood. Locals rushed to the house after hearing the screams and found Bhabotosh lying in a pool of blood inside the bedroom. He was later taken to Koyra Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Medical officials confirmed multiple sharp weapon injuries, including deep cuts to the neck and chest.

Key details of the incident

Relatives of the deceased reported that Bhabotosh’s elderly mother was staying in an adjacent room with other family members. She described hearing sudden cries and discovering her son gravely injured shortly afterwards.

A neighbour, describing the aftermath, said the attackers appeared to have entered silently by digging beneath the house structure, bypassing normal entry points. The bedroom showed signs of violent struggle, with bloodstains visible on the floor and stair area.

The injured wife, Biva Mridha, told locals she recognised a person named Gofur during the attack and suggested that long-standing disputes over land may have been a possible motive. However, this claim has not yet been independently verified.

A resident medical officer at Koyra Upazila Health Complex stated that the victim had already died before arrival at the hospital, and that the injuries indicated a targeted and deliberate assault.

Police from Koyra Upazila have launched an investigation. The officer in charge said that initial findings suggest the incident was unlikely to be related to theft, as no valuables were reported missing from the house. Investigators are now examining possible personal enmity or prior disputes as the motive behind the killing.

The incident has created widespread shock in the local community, with residents demanding swift arrest of those responsible and improved security in the rural area.