A journalist was shot dead and another person injured when armed assailants opened fire at a tea stall in the Sholua Bazar area under Aranghata Police Station of Khulna city on Thursday night.

The deceased was identified as Emdadul Haque Milon, 45, who worked for an online news portal and also served as general secretary of the Sholua Bazar Development Committee. The injured, Debashish Biswas, 30, is a local veterinary doctor.

The incident occurred around 10:00 pm at a tea shop in the market. Milon was shot in the head and died on the spot, while Debashish sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where his condition was reported to be critical.

Eyewitnesses said four assailants arrived at the tea stall on two motorcycles and fired several blank shots, causing panic among people in the area. As locals fled, two of the attackers entered the tea shop and shot Milon at point-blank range. They then shot Debashish before fleeing the scene.

Milon is the son of Md Bazlur Rahman of Sholua Bazar, while Debashish is the son of Rabindranath Biswas of the same area.

Khulna Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Media) TMR Roknuzzaman confirmed that two people were shot in the incident, one of whom died, while the other remains under treatment.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (North) of Khulna Metropolitan Police Amit Kumar Barman said police were investigating the motive behind the killing. “We have learned that Milon was a journalist and a local organization leader. The cause of the attack is yet to be determined,” he said.

Police said efforts are underway to identify and arrest those responsible.