Jashore Correspondent

A 32-year-old man was shot dead by a group of assailants late Monday night in what is believed to be a gang-related attack in Jashore city.

The victim, identified as Meer Samir Sakib Sadi, was gunned down near his home on Murrib Road in the city, said said Additional Police Superintendent Noor-ul-Alam Siddiqui.

The incident occurred around 11:45 pm when Sadi, along with his cousin in the courtyard of their residence behind Jayanti Society.

According to eyewitnesses, a group of armed assailants ambushed Sadi, first stabbing him from behind with a knife before shooting him multiple times. Despite one of the rounds misfiring, the attackers fired several more shots, hitting Sadi in the neck and chest. He was rushed to Jashore General Hospital but was declared dead shortly after arrival.

Rakib, Sadi’s cousin, sad the victim had been targeted after rejecting the demands of local miscreants involved in illegal activities, including extortion and smuggling.

Sadi had strong ties to Mansell, the expelled joint convener of the Jubo League and a top terror in Jashore. Mansell, who has been on the run since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, had his associates, including Sadi, involved in a range of illicit activities in the region, said police.

It was believed that the assailants, also former associates of Mansell, may have seen Sadi’s return as a threat to their own criminal interests, ultimately leading to his murder, said the police official.

Locals said, Sadi was injured in a road accident at Palbari Sculpture intersection in the town on December 9, 2013 after killing Kabir Hossain Polash, the then vice-president of Jashore district Chhatra Dal. One of his legs had to be amputated in the accident.

Despite the loss of his leg, Sadi had continued his criminal activities, maintaining close ties with Mansell and his associates.