Bangladesh unrest deepens as another student leader shot in Khulna

Bangladesh is witnessing renewed political unrest after a youth leader was shot in Khulna, days after the killing of prominent activist Sharif Osman Bin Hadi in Dhaka.

Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, divisional chief of the Bangladesh National Citizen Party (NCP), was attacked on Monday morning near Gazi Medical College Hospital while preparing for a scheduled rally.

The shooting has intensified fears of escalating political violence amid ongoing protests across the country.

The attack comes shortly after the death of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a leading youth figure whose killing sparked widespread demonstrations in the capital. Hadi, a key leader during Bangladesh’s 2024 uprising, was shot on December 12 as he exited a mosque in central Dhaka. He was later airlifted to Singapore for treatment but succumbed to his injuries last Thursday.

Confirming the incident, NCP joint principal coordinator Mahmuda Mitu wrote on Facebook: “Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar was shot a few minutes ago.” Sikdar, a resident of Sheikhpara Palli in Sonadanga, is a senior organiser within the party’s workers’ wing.

Police said the shooting took place around 11:45am. Animesh Mondol, officer-in-charge of Sonadanga Model Police Station, stated that assailants opened fire at Sikdar, aiming at his head, near the hospital premises. He was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Doctors later confirmed that Sikdar is now out of danger. Mondol added that the bullet grazed through one side of his ear and exited from the other, narrowly missing vital areas.

According to Saif Nawaz, an NCP official from the Khulna metropolitan unit, the attack occurred as Sikdar was making final arrangements for a rally that was due to begin shortly. The incident has raised serious concerns over the safety of political activists amid heightened tensions.

Following Hadi’s death, thousands took to the streets in Dhaka, demanding justice and accountability. Officials noted that Hadi was a senior member of Inqilab Mancha and a vocal critic of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, described Hadi’s killing as an “irreparable loss for the nation,” announcing a day of mourning and ordering special prayers across the country.