Violence shook Khulna on Monday as Md Motaleb Sikder, 42, a senior labour leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), was shot in the head at his home in the Sonadanga area. Sikder, who is also the central organiser and Khulna divisional convener of the party’s labour wing, Jatiya Sramik Shakti, was reportedly working on preparations for an upcoming labour rally when the attack took place around midday.

Sikder Immediately Rushed to Hospital

Party officials said the bullet grazed his skull, and although initial reports described his condition as critical, Sikder is now stable. “The Khulna Division head of NCP and central coordinator of the party’s workers front, Motaleb Sikder, was shot a few minutes ago,” the party said in a statement. He was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital before being moved to City Diagnostic Centre for a CT scan.

The shooting comes just days after the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader and spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, who died in Singapore on December 18 after being shot in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12. Hadi’s death had sparked protests across Bangladesh, with demonstrators demanding swift justice.

Sikder’s Background

Sikder has been an active figure in the student-led movements that gained momentum in 2024 and remains a key organiser for upcoming political events. Local authorities are investigating the attack, with police confirming that inquiries are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.

Political analysts say the incidents reflect escalating tensions ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 2026, with violent attacks on youth leaders becoming a worrying trend. Radical elements linked to the NCP have also issued inflammatory statements against India, further raising concerns about regional stability.