Unidentified gunmen have shot dead a local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Rupsha upazila of Khulna. The victim, 43-year-old Sheikh Zakir Hossain, was killed around 10:00 pm on Thursday (12 November) in the Swalpabahirdia area under Sadar union. The sudden late-night attack has triggered widespread panic and tension across the quiet locality.
Zakir Hossain was the son of Jalil Sheikh and a resident of Swalpabahirdia village. An active figure in local politics, he served as a member of the convening committee for the TSB union unit of the BNP. He was also the elder brother of Abu Sayeed, Member Secretary of Rupsha Upazila Chhatra Dal. News of his violent death quickly drew grief and anger from fellow party activists and local residents alike.
According to local sources and witnesses, Zakir was seated at Hirok’s shop in Swalpabahirdia when the attackers struck. Several assailants wearing helmets arrived on motorcycles, opened fire directly at him, and sped away within moments. Because their faces were concealed behind helmets, bystanders were unable to identify the shooters immediately. Hearing the gunshots, neighbours rushed to the shop, rescued the bleeding leader, and took him to Rupsha Upazila Health Complex. Doctors on duty declared him dead upon arrival.
Khulna Additional Superintendent of Police (DSB) Abir Siddiqui Shuvro and Rupsha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Masum Khan confirmed the fatal shooting. Speaking on the investigation, OC Masum Khan noted that the killing occurred in an area situated between Fakirhat and Rupsha police stations. Police officers visited the crime scene, recovered the body, and sent it to Khulna Medical College Hospital morgue for post-mortem examination.
Law enforcement agencies have since launched coordinated drives to track down those responsible. Multiple specialised police teams are working across the area to identify the motorcycle-borne attackers and establish the exact motive behind the murder. Security vigilance has been stepped up in Swalpabahirdia as investigators gather witness accounts and examine potential leads.
