Is Bangladesh Experiencing Another Student Leader's Attack?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Muhammad Motaleb Shikder was shot in Khulna.
- The violence follows the assassination of Osman Haidi.
- The NCP is a newly formed student-led political party.
- Anti-India sentiments are being propagated by radical factions.
- Upcoming elections in February 2026 could be affected by this violence.
Dhaka, Dec 22 (NationPress) In the context of escalating turmoil and violence in Bangladesh following the assassination of student leader Osman Haidi, another student leader has been attacked, sustaining a gunshot wound to the head, according to local news reports.
The latest victim is Muhammad Motaleb Shikder, a prominent figure in the National Citizen Party (NCP), the same party that Osman Haidi represented. He was shot in the head by unknown assailants in Khulna at approximately 11:45 AM today, and is currently receiving medical care.
“A bullet traversed one side of Shikder's ear. He is presently out of immediate danger,” relayed a Bangladeshi daily, citing Animesh Mondol, the officer in charge of the investigation.
Authorities confirmed that the student leader is being transported to a diagnostic facility for a CT scan, and further inquiries into the shooting are ongoing.
This violent act against Muhammad Motaleb Shikder marks another serious incident in a nation grappling with unrest following the death of Osman Haidi.
Sharif Osman Haidi, a radical student figure, was killed last week from a gunshot to the head. The 32-year-old was notorious for his extreme anti-India statements and rose to prominence during last year's student protests that led to the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Haidi was attacked by masked assailants on December 12 as he exited a mosque in Dhaka. His assassination incited a wave of violent demonstrations throughout Bangladesh, emboldening Islamist factions to unleash terror against the nation's minorities.
This alarming trend is particularly relevant as it unfolds just months before the scheduled elections in Bangladesh, set for February 2026. The attempted murder of the NCP student leader threatens to incite further unrest and violence against minority communities.
Established last year amid the violent protests of August, the NCP, supported by student activists, has consistently fostered anti-India sentiments through inflammatory remarks.
As the first student-led political organization in Bangladesh, the NCP is poised to enter the upcoming electoral fray, challenging the long-dominant Awami League and BNP led by Khaleda Zia.