Md. Khairuzzaman Sajib, Special Correspondent, Dhaka

Khulna District Police has launched a special operation in four upazilas to improve law and order, in coordination with the elite force SRB and Khulna Metropolitan Police.

The operation began on Tuesday in Rupsa, Dighalia, Terokhada and Batiaghata upazilas, involving personnel from the three law enforcement agencies.

Khulna Superintendent of Police Sarkar Omar Faruk disclosed the information at a press briefing held at the district police superintendent’s conference room at 3:30pm on Wednesday. He said the primary objectives of the operation were to control drug-related crime and recover illegal firearms.

“Most targeted killings in Khulna are linked to drugs,” SP Omar Faruk said. He added that 35 murders had been reported in the district so far this year. Investigators had solved 25 of the cases, while 10 remained under investigation.

According to the superintendent, the reported killings included nine involving firearms, three stemming from drug-related disputes, 13 linked to social issues, two politically motivated killings, two cases with unknown motives, two involving the strangulation of newborns, and four arising from family disputes.

Highlighting geographical challenges to crime prevention, Sarkar Omar Faruk said the Rupsa River and Bhairab River separate parts of the city and district, allowing criminals to move quickly from one area to another after committing offences.

He also noted that the dense population of Rupsa Upazila makes it easier for criminals to hide.

The police have set the next week as a critical period for improving the law and order situation, the SP said, adding that they would seek to bring about visible changes during that time.

At the briefing, Additional Superintendent of Police (A-Circle) Saiful Islam said some firearms looted during the 2024 mass uprising had yet to be recovered. He added that some of the weapons were believed to be in the possession of criminals.