WEB DESK: A second student leader has been shot in the head this month amid escalating political unrest. The latest incident occurred in Khulna, a southern city, where Muhammad Md Motaleb Sikder, a senior leader of the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP), was targeted on Monday by unidentified gunmen in the Sonadanga area.
Bangladeshi media reported that Sikder, 42, sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was immediately rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Later updates revealed that the bullet grazed his skull without penetrating it, and his condition has since stabilized. Doctors have confirmed that he is no longer in immediate danger.
The NCP’s joint principal coordinator, Mahmuda Mitu, confirmed the incident through a Facebook post. She identified Sikder as the party’s Khulna divisional convener and a central organizer of its labor wing, Jatiya Sramik Shakti. The attack occurred around midday while Sikder was at a residence near Gazi Medical College Hospital in Khulna.
Police stated that the bullet struck near Sikder’s ear and exited after grazing his skull, narrowly missing vital areas. Investigations are ongoing, although no arrests have been made. The identities and motives of the assailants remain unclear. Authorities have launched a search operation in the area to locate those responsible.
Party representatives disclosed that Sikder had been engaged in preparations for an upcoming divisional labor rally in Khulna. The attack took place during organizational activities related to the event.
This incident follows the killing of another student leader, Sharif Osman Hadi, earlier this month. Hadi, 32, was a prominent youth activist and organizer of recent student-led demonstrations. He was shot in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area while campaigning for the February 12 general elections. Despite being flown to Singapore for advanced medical treatment, he succumbed to his injuries.
Hadi’s death prompted widespread unrest, with violent protests erupting across Dhaka and other cities as demonstrators demanded justice and accountability. These events have further heightened political tensions and raised concerns over public safety and governance.
The NCP was established earlier this year after the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power. Originating from movements such as Students Against Discrimination and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, it has quickly emerged as a significant student-led political force in Bangladesh.
As political violence continues to grip the country, authorities maintain tightened security in affected areas. Investigations into both attacks are ongoing amid increasing calls for stability during these tumultuous times.
