Dhaka: in continuing pre-poll violence in Bangladesh, a student leader was shot at and injured in Khulna on Monday.
According to officials, unknown gunmen attacked Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, a senior leader of the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP), as reported by NDTV.
The incident occurred around 11.45 am on Monday at a house in the Sonadanga area of the city, the Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo reported.
Sikdar is considered a central figure in NCP’s labour organisation and was shot in the head, the media in Bangladesh said.
Saif Nawaz, an organiser of the NCP’s Khulna metropolitan unit, told the publication that Sikdar is a central organiser and the Khulna divisional convener of the NCP’s labour wing, Jatiya Sramik Shakti.
Nawaz said that Sikdar was working on organising a divisional labour rally for the party in Khulna, which was scheduled to take place soon, when the attack occurred. The student leader suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of his head and is receiving treatment at a hospital, it was reported.
Sonadanga police station inspector (investigation) Animesh Mandal confirmed the development and said that Sikdar was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital after being shot. From there, he was taken to City Diagnostic Center for a CT scan of his head.
Further investigation into the incident is underway, Mandal said.
Violent protests rocked Bangladesh last week after the death of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi. A polarising figure known for his strong anti-India rhetoric, Hadi, 32, gained prominence during Bangladesh’s 2024 student uprising that led to the ouster of former premier Sheikh Hasina.
