Market now a desolate place

Most of the shops closed soon after Saturday's murder of AL leader Kamrul Islam Kutu in front of the AL office are yet to reopen.

"We are in panic", said a medicine shop owner.

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"It has become highly risky for us to do business near a political party office", said Mansur Azad who owns an electronic goods shop.

Another shop owner said he is planning to shift his business from the market.

"Business is not all. Security is important. We are apolitical, but might be implicated in any dirty matter any time", he said.

Businessman at Shankha Market have witnessed five political murders in front of the AL office in last one decade.

The victims belonged to AL, its youth front Jubo League and student front Chatra League.

After every murder, police come but in most cases, the killers escape the police net, another trader said.

Jubo League leader Tutul was gunned down in front of AL office in 1992.

Chtra League activist Bikash Jubo League leader Anwar Hossain were gunned down there in 1996 and 1999 respectively. Another Jubo League activist, Shajahan, was shot dead in 1999.

All these murders were committed in presence of large number of people and policeman deployed to guard the AL office.

Investigation of three of the murders have been stalled for reason yet to be known.