KHULNA — Khulna district police have instructed their personnel not to travel alone at night after a police inspector was seriously injured in a violent mugging, highlighting growing concerns over law and order in the southwestern district of Bangladesh.
The directive was issued in an official letter signed by the superintendent of police of the District Special Branch (DSB) on Friday night, October 9. It comes as police conduct special operations to arrest criminals and recover illegal firearms following a series of deadly shootings and attacks.
According to the letter, special operations are underway in Rupsa, Terokhada, Dighalia and Batiaghata upazilas in response to the prevailing security situation and recent attacks on law enforcement personnel. Unit commanders have been instructed to ensure that officers engaged in special operations and other duties do not travel alone at night.
Police Inspector Attacked by Suspected Muggers
The latest incident occurred at around 2:30am on Friday, when police inspector Shah Alam, 43, was attacked in front of Khulna Collegiate School on Khan Jahan Ali Road in Khulna city.
Alam was returning by rickshaw after completing a special operation in Rupsa upazila. Travelling in plain clothes, he was intercepted by three suspected muggers who allegedly seized his money and mobile phones.
When he attempted to resist, the attackers reportedly struck him with a machete, inflicting serious injuries to both wrists.
Police rescued the injured inspector and took him to hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to a private hospital in Dhaka for advanced treatment, where he remains under medical care.
Khulna Superintendent of Police Government Omar Faruk said the restriction on travelling alone at night was introduced to protect personnel returning home after duty and reduce the risk of similar attacks.
Describing the directive as an internal security measure, Faruk said its primary purpose was to prevent police personnel from becoming victims of mugging.
Spate of Killings Raises Security Concerns
The attack on the inspector comes amid a series of violent incidents that have intensified concerns over law and order in parts of Khulna district.
On Monday, Akhtar Dhali was shot dead in Rupsa, around one and a half months after his son, Joy Dhali, was murdered. In a separate incident, a man was shot dead at a tea stall in the Formayshakhana area of Dighalia.
The killings prompted district police to launch a special crackdown on Tuesday night, targeting suspected criminals and seeking to recover illegal firearms.
Police have identified Rupsa, Terokhada, Dighalia and Batiaghata as areas covered by the ongoing operations. The reported attacks on law enforcement personnel have added another dimension to the security challenge, raising concerns about the risks faced by officers conducting operations and travelling after duty.
Security Measures Amid Law and Order Challenges
The instruction barring officers from travelling alone at night reflects heightened concern within the district police over personnel safety amid ongoing anti-crime operations.
However, the directive alone does not establish the overall extent of deterioration in law and order across Khulna. A broader assessment would require verified crime statistics, details of arrests and weapons recoveries, and information on the frequency of violent incidents.
The immediate priority for police is to protect personnel, pursue those responsible for the recent killings and attack, and prevent further armed violence as the special operations continue.
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