Khulna, Bangladesh— A woman was shot and fatally stabbed Thursday in a targeted attack in Khulna, prompting a murder investigation and a search for the assailant.
The attack happened at 8:30 p.m. in the Sonadanga residential area. The victim, a 34-year-old small business owner, was returning home from her shop. A man waiting near her house stepped forward, fired one shot, then stabbed her multiple times before fleeing.
Neighbors heard the gunshot and screams. They found the woman on the ground outside her gate. She had a bullet wound to the chest and stab wounds to the neck and abdomen. She was declared dead at Khulna Medical College Hospital at 9:15 p.m.
Police recovered one spent cartridge and a knife left at the scene. The attacker wore a mask and helmet, according to a witness who saw him run to a motorcycle. No arrest has been made.
"This was not a robbery. Nothing was taken. It was planned," a Khulna Metropolitan Police officer said. "The victim had received threats over a land dispute. We are looking at all angles."
Family members said the woman had been in conflict with a local group over ownership of a plot near the market. She had filed a general diary with police last month after being followed. Her husband said she feared for her safety.
Khulna has seen a rise in targeted attacks linked to land and business disputes this year. Police data shows 11 such killings since January. Convictions remain rare.
Forensic teams sealed the house and collected blood samples. CCTV footage from a nearby shop is being reviewed. The footage shows a single rider leaving at high speed after the attack.
Police said they have identified a suspect and are conducting raids. The body will be handed over to family after autopsy on Friday.
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