Highlights:
- Second student-linked political leader shot in the head within 10 days
- Attack took place in Khulna, southwestern Bangladesh
- Victim remains in critical condition at a government hospital
- Incident follows killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi
- Violence raises concerns ahead of February national elections
Unidentified gunmen shot another prominent Bangladesh student-linked political leader in the head on Monday (22), escalating concerns over growing political violence just days after the killing of youth activist Sharif Osman Hadi, authorities and party officials said.
The latest victim, Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, serves as the Khulna Division chief of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and is a central coordinator of the party’s workers’ wing. He was attacked in the southwestern city of Khulna and rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition.
“The Khulna Division head of NCP and central coordinator of the party’s workers front, Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, was shot a few minutes ago,” Mahmuda Mitu, a joint principal coordinator of the NCP, said in a Facebook post. Mitu, who is also a physician, confirmed that Sikdar was undergoing emergency treatment.
Local daily Kaler Kantha, citing hospital officials, reported that Sikdar was shot on the left side of his head and was bleeding heavily when he arrived at the hospital. Doctors immediately began emergency medical procedures, but his condition remained critical as of Monday evening.
The shooting marks the second high-profile attack on a student-linked political leader in less than two weeks, heightening fears of targeted violence as Bangladesh prepares for national elections scheduled for February 12.
The attack follows the December 12 shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in last year’s student-led protests that contributed to the downfall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government. Hadi, 32, was shot in the head by masked gunmen during an election campaign event in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area.
Hadi later died while receiving medical treatment in Singapore, his party said. At the time of his death, he was serving as spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha, a youth political platform, and was running as a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Following Hadi’s death, the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus declared a day of nationwide mourning and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. Officials said security agencies had been instructed to leave “no stone unturned” in tracking down the attackers.
Hadi’s killing triggered fresh unrest in Dhaka and several other major cities, with protests and sporadic violence reported in the days that followed. The latest shooting in Khulna is likely to further inflame tensions in an already volatile political environment.
Authorities have not yet identified suspects or announced arrests in either case. Investigations are ongoing, officials said.
Observers warn that continued attacks on political figures could undermine public confidence in security and threaten the credibility of the upcoming elections, as Bangladesh navigates a fragile transition period under the interim government.
