Golam Rabbani Tipu, a former councilor and vice-president of the Khulna Metropolitan Volunteer League, was gunned down in front of a hotel near Cox’s Bazar beach on Wednesday evening. Before his untimely death, Tipu made a heartfelt phone call to his wife, Sabihah Akhter, asking about her and their children. He inquired about their well-being, unaware it would be their final conversation. Sabihah tearfully recounted their last exchange, expressing the deep void his sudden loss has left in their lives.

At the family home on Hossain Shah Road in Khulna, the atmosphere was somber as relatives, neighbors, and friends gathered to mourn the tragic loss. Tipu’s elderly father, Golam Akbar, sat silently in grief, holding his 13-year-old grandson, Tasin Rabbani Rahat, a seventh-grader at Khulna Government Laboratory School. Both appeared lost in their sorrow, struggling to come to terms with the devastating news.

According to family sources, Tipu had traveled to Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday alongside Sheikh Hasan Iftikhar Chalu, another recently removed councilor and Awami League leader. The two arrived in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday morning and stayed at a hotel until the evening. Around 8:20 PM, assailants opened fire on Tipu near the Seagull Hotel, fatally wounding him.

Tipu’s wife and brother believe the killing was premeditated. Sabihah Akhter claimed that Gazi Kamrul, a former extremist leader, had frequently threatened her husband and orchestrated his murder. She alleged that Kamrul, who opposed Tipu's popularity and his role as a community mediator, conspired with others to lure him to Cox’s Bazar and have him killed.

Golam Rasul Badsha, Tipu’s elder brother, echoed similar suspicions. He stated that long-standing disputes over land and local dominance likely motivated the murder. Badsha accused rivals from the Daulatpur and Khalishpur areas of plotting Tipu’s death after multiple failed attempts.

Tipu was known for his significant influence in his locality, his involvement in land dealings, and his role in settling disputes. Over the years, he had gained many admirers as well as enemies. Previously engaged in fish and salt trading in Cox’s Bazar, Tipu had maintained strong ties to the area, frequently traveling there for business. His prominence, however, also brought him into conflicts over territorial dominance and land disputes.

Local residents speculated that the murder was a result of these rivalries. Some noted that Tipu often traveled with armed escorts due to the threats he faced, underscoring the dangerous environment he navigated.

At the grieving family’s home, Golam Akbar lamented the loss of his son, describing him as a kind-hearted individual who helped others and caused no harm. Overwhelmed by sorrow, he struggled to process the reality of his son’s violent death.

Law enforcement is investigating the murder, but no arrests have been made yet. According to Mir Atahar Ali, Officer-in-Charge of Daulatpur Police Station, Tipu previously faced two murder-related cases in Daulatpur. Another case was registered against him in Khalishpur last August. Despite this legal history, Tipu was not currently implicated in any active cases. His body remained in Cox’s Bazar at the time of the report, awaiting transportation to Khulna for funeral arrangements.

The tragic death of Golam Rabbani Tipu has left his family, friends, and community in shock, while questions surrounding the motives and perpetrators remain unanswered.