Jubo Dal activist shot dead in Khulna

A Jubo Dal activist was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Sreerampur of Rupsha upazila in Khulna early Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Fakhrul Sheikh, 32, son of Momin Uddin of Naihati village. He was the younger brother of local Jubodal leader Farhad Hossain.

Police and local sources said the incident took place at Rupsha Bricks around 12:55AM. Fakhrul visited the brick kiln on Tuesday night to oversee the business and nearby fish enclosure, as part of his routine.

Earlier in the afternoon, Fakhrul had an altercation with the kiln’s night guard, Taiyab. Following the argument, Taiyab remained absent from duty that night.

A group of armed men opened fire on Fakhrul near the brick kiln office at midnight. He suffered two gunshot wounds - one in the neck and another near his right jaw penetrating the head. Family members could not immediately confirm the motive or identify the attackers.

Upon hearing the news, his brother Farhad and three other family members rushed to the spot. They rescued Fakhrul and took him to Rupsha Upazila Health Complex, where the duty doctor declared him dead.

Farhad said Fakhrul was a former student leader of Rupsha College and an active Jubodal worker. "He left home at night to buy medicine for his daughter. Later, his friend called me at 12:11AM informing that someone was attacking Fakhrul. I rushed there and found him lying unconscious near the office," Farhad added.

Rupsha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdur Razzaque Mir said police visited the spot immediately after the incident.

Police sent the body to Khulna Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy on Wednesday morning after preparing the inquest report.

Farhad filed a case with Rupsha Police Station in this connection. Police are conducting drives to arrest the killers, the OC added.

-SA