Sylhet, Aug 27 (V7N) — A series of murders over the past 27 days has raised fresh concerns about the law and order situation in Sylhet, with five people killed in separate incidents between July 27 and August 23. Three of the victims were killed in a single incident.

The latest killing took place on Sunday night, August 23, when businessman Shahabuddin was allegedly attacked with sharp weapons near his home in the Islamabad area of Sylhet city. He was later taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The recent incidents have triggered growing public concern over security in the metropolitan area. On Saturday, August 22, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, who is also a lawmaker from Sylhet city, held a meeting with officials at the Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Office.

Responding to questions from journalists after the meeting, the minister said the key issue was not simply the current state of law and order, but what kind of security environment the people of Sylhet wanted to see. He said the government wanted to eliminate drug trafficking, online gambling and the activities of juvenile gangs from the city.

The recent killings began on July 27, when teenager Rifat Ahmed was stabbed to death on the Kazirbazar Bridge following an altercation reportedly linked to a football match.

On August 12, businessman Abdus Sattar, his wife Suraiya Begum and their domestic worker Tahmina were found dead at a house in the Mitali Residential Area of Raynagar. Sattar was a former director of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In the latest incident, Shahabuddin was attacked between around 11:00pm and 11:30pm on August 23 in the Islamabad area. Relatives and local residents found him seriously injured and took him to Osmani Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Shahabuddin was originally from Bijoy Bari in Charkhai, Beanibazar. He had been living with his family in the Shah Paran-Islamabad area since around 2020. He ran a shop near the main entrance to the shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran (RA).

According to his relatives, Shahabuddin was walking home from his shop when the attackers intercepted him near his residence and assaulted him with sharp weapons. He sustained several injuries around his neck and throat.

His younger son, Redwan Ahmed, said a local resident informed him that his father had been stopped by someone. He rushed to the area and found his father lying injured.

Shahabuddin’s nephew, Alamin Jewel, said the family was unaware of any personal dispute involving him. He said Shahabuddin regularly walked between his home and his shop, which was about half a kilometre away.

The family also ruled out robbery as a possible motive, saying that Shahabuddin’s iPhone and around Tk 10,000 in cash were still with him after the attack.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Md Manzurul Alam said police had intensified patrols, deployed mobile teams and strengthened intelligence gathering to maintain law and order in the city.

He urged residents involved in personal, family, business or land-related disputes to seek legal remedies instead of taking matters into their own hands.

Triple Murder in Raynagar

Police have arrested Babul Mia in connection with the triple murder in Raynagar. He has reportedly given a confessional statement before a court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

According to police, Babul allegedly entered the house with the intention of stealing. After the domestic worker discovered him, he allegedly killed her and subsequently killed the couple.

In another development, 25 days after Rifat Ahmed was stabbed to death on Kazirbazar Bridge, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Jewel Ahmed, an accused in the case, on August 21. He was subsequently sent to jail.

Syeda Shirin Akter, president of the Sylhet chapter of the Committee of Concerned Citizens (SANAK), said the five killings within a relatively short period had created a growing sense of insecurity among residents.

She said an increase in killings in Sylhet and other parts of the country indicated a deterioration in the law and order situation and called for stronger and more effective action by law enforcement agencies.

END/AKR/SMA/