The latest victim of political vendetta is Manzurul Imam, city Awami League (AL) president.

The crimes originated by and large from intra-party and inter-party rivalries. Members of the outlawed extremist groups were used as hired killers in some cases. But they could not be brought to justice.

On the evening of March 25, 1992, Chhatra Shibir leader Aminul Islam Biman was beaten to death by the activists of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) who were in a procession of the Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.

Communist leader Ratan Sen was stabbed to death in front of the district police superintendent's office at 8.30am on July 31, 1992. On September 20, 1993, Chhatra Shibir cadres Munshi Abdul Hamid, Sheikh Rahman Ali and Amanullah were killed in a gunbattle with the activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD).

Awami League leader and ward commissioner Moslemuddin Khan was gunned down on February 2, 1995. It was followed by the murder of city JCD secretary Abul Kalam Azad on February 26.

BNP leader and former Khulna City Corporation deputy mayor Ikhtiaruddin Bablu and Jatiya Party leader and former president of Khulna Chamber Sheikh Abul Kashem were gunned down on August 22, 1994 and April 25, 1995 respectively. The driver of Abul Kashem was also shot dead on the same day.

Chhatra Shibir leader Abul Kashem Pathan was gunned down by JCD activists on the City College campus on October 23, 1994. Chhatra League leader Anwar Hossain Kamal was shot dead at Khalishpur on August 18, 1998.

Central vice president of the JCD Wahiduzzaman Chanchal was hacked to death on the night of October 18, 1998 at Sher-e- Bangla Road, while Jubo Dal leader Babul was shot dead on November 3.

Jubo League leaders Anwar Hossain and Zahiruddin Panna were gunned down on January 30 and March 26, 1999, respectively. Awami League leader FM Siraj and Sramik League leader Manik Mia were beaten to death by angry workers inside People's Jute Mills at Khalishpur on January 10, 2000. AL mayoral candidate SMA Rob was gunned down at 1.30pm on August 11, 2000, in front of his residence.

Jubo League leader Shafiqul Islam Liton was shot dead on February 1, 2001, when he was being taken back to Khulna Central Jail by police from court. Awami League leader Sarder Haroon-ar-Rashid was gunned down in front of his residence on April 14, 2001.

The vice president of Khulna district AL, Sarder Abdur Razzak, was gunned down in front of his residence at Roypara on August 4, 2001. AL leader Hasan Tarafder was killed at Daulatpur on September 13, 2001.