A journalist was brutally murdered in Monirampur upazila of Jashore district in southwestern Bangladesh after being called out and attacked in public. The incident took place on Monday evening (5 January) at Kopalia Bazar.
The victim was identified as Rana Pratap Bairagi (38), son of Tushar Kanti Bairagi of Keshabpur upazila in Jashore. He was the acting editor of the Narail-based newspaper Daily BD Khoborand also owned an ice factory at Kopalia Bazar.
According to local sources and police, Rana Pratap was at his ice factory on Monday afternoon when three men arrived on a motorcycle around 5:45pm. They took him to an alley in front of Kopalia Clinic and Diagnostic Center on the west side of the bazar. Moments later, they shot him at close range and slit his throat before fleeing. He died on the spot.
The shocking attack spread panic across the bazar and nearby areas. Police rushed to the scene soon after receiving the news.
Police also said Rana Pratap had one case filed against him at Abhaynagar Police Station and three more at Keshabpur Police Station, though details were not immediately available. Monirampur Police Station OC Md Rajiullah Khan confirmed that he was shot three times in the head and his throat was slit. The body has been sent to Jashore 250-bed General Hospital for autopsy.
Police added that the motive behind the murder is still unknown. Efforts are underway to identify those responsible and legal procedures are in progress.