Outlaws distribute leaflets openly in Khulna

The party cadres are distributing leaflets openly, riding motorbikes, private cars and microbuses. The alleged outlaws are moving at large in the city.

Three other outlawed parties--PBCP (M-L), BCP and NBCP-- have also increased their crimes including murders in Khulna and nine other districts under Khulna division following the "failed" Operation Spider Web, sources said.

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Forty-nine murders were committed in September and six from October 1 to October 5 in the 10 districts, police records say. The figure was 36 in January this year.

Khulna district tops the list of political murders. Eighteen murders took place in the district in the last nine months. All these victims belonged to ruling BNP, opposition Awamli League and their front organisations.

Crimes did not show any sign of let-up despite arrest of a good number of 'listed criminals' and criminals, the sources said.

Fifty-three 'listed criminals' and 17 'outlaws' were arrested in the last nine months from the South-Western districts. They include notorious outlaws Debu, Haider Ali, Ali Akbar Aku, Sultan Gazi, Kala Quddus, Rafiqu Joarder, Jinnat, Tauhid Sana, Rabiul, Tapan, Shukur Ghazi, Ripon, Keherman and Gautam.

But only 17 arms were recovered during the same period.

According to police record, 481 murders were committed in the 10 districts of Khulna division in last nine months. The victims include 28 political leaders and activists and 12 policemen.