Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Commissioner Md Zulfiqar Ali Haider said on Tuesday that the law and order situation in Khulna city is gradually improving due to the police's relentless efforts.
A total of 26 murders occurred in the metropolitan area over the past 10 months. Among them, two bodies were found floating in rivers and are under investigation by river police.
Out of the remaining 24 cases, KMP has successfully solved 22 through investigations and arrested the accused. The other two cases are still under investigation, with notable progress being made, the commissioner added at a press conference held on Tuesday at the KMP conference room.
Regarding the growing threat of drug abuse among the youth, he said drug dealers, peddlers, and those importing drugs into Khulna from outside remain under continuous police surveillance.
He also said regular anti-narcotics drives are ongoing. Just last week, authorities seized 19,000 pieces of yaba in the Harintana Thana area.
The commissioner urged everyone, especially parents, to ensure that school and college-going children return home to study in the evenings and avoid unnecessary loitering after dusk.
Commenting on traffic issues, the commissioner noted that around 20,000 to 22,000 battery-run three-wheelers, known as easy bikes, operate in Khulna daily. About 60 percent of them enter the city from outside. Many drivers are unaware of traffic laws, which contributes to congestion.
KMP has already trained 6,500 easy bike drivers and plans to train the rest within the next three to four months. Authorities are also considering dividing easy bikes into two colour groups and allowing them to operate on alternate days as a possible solution.
Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Mohammad Rashidul Islam Khan, Deputy Police Commissioner (North) Mohammad Tajul Islam, Deputy Police Commissioner (South) Md Abu Tarek, Deputy Police Commissioner (CTSB) Abul Bashar Mohammad Atikur Rahman, and Deputy Police Commissioner (Traffic) Sudarshan Kumar Roy, among others, were present.
