Another Bangladesh student leader shot in head

A student political leader affiliated with Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP) was shot and wounded in the southern city of Khulna on Monday, The Daily Star reported.

The incident comes days after the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent organiser of last year’s student-led movement that led to the removal of long-serving prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hadi was shot in the head by unidentified attackers in Dhaka on December 16 while beginning his campaign for the February elections. He later died in Singapore after spending six days on life support.

According to The Daily Star, the latest victim has been identified as Mohammad Motaleb Sikder, 42, who serves as the NCP’s divisional chief in Khulna.

Quoting Sonadanga Model Police Station officer-in-charge Rafikul Islam, the newspaper reported that assailants opened fire near Gazi Medical College Hospital at around 11:45am local time. Sikder was hit near the head and was immediately taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Police later said Sikder was no longer in danger, explaining that the bullet grazed his ear, entering from one side and exiting from the other without causing life-threatening injuries.

Violence has intensified in Bangladesh’s political landscape following the attack on Hadi. Authorities said protests erupted in several areas, during which multiple buildings were torched or damaged, including offices housing major newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

Political tensions have been high in recent months ahead of the February elections. In November, gunmen riding motorcycles opened fire at a political gathering in the port city of Chattogram, killing one person and injuring two others, including an election candidate. Police said the attack occurred during a rally organised by the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) that was attended by hundreds of people.