Dhaka/Khulna: A senior student and labour activist, Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, was critically injured after being shot in the head on Monday in Khulna, as political violence intensified across Bangladesh ahead of national elections.
Police said unidentified assailants opened fire near Sikdar’s residence in the Sonadanga area, leaving him with a severe head injury. He was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors described his condition as critical. Investigators have launched a manhunt to identify the attackers and establish the motive behind the shooting.
🚨 Bangladesh Violence:
Md Motaleb Sikder, Khulna divisional chief & central organizer of NCP, was shot in the head by unknown gunmen in Khulna. He is currently hospitalized.
If Bangladeshis still believe India is behind these killings, they are being misled.
Think clearly-… pic.twitter.com/opgRYCzw1R
— The Alternate Media (@AlternateMediaX) December 22, 2025
Sikdar is a known figure in student and labour movements and holds an organisational role in the National Citizen Party’s labour wing. Party leaders said he was preparing for a regional mobilisation when the attack occurred, calling it a targeted assault aimed at intimidating youth activists during the sensitive pre-election period.
The incident comes weeks after the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, an episode that sparked nationwide protests and a wave of unrest, including attacks on media offices and public institutions. Together, the incidents have heightened fears of a widening spiral of violence as campaigning gathers pace.
Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus condemned the shooting and appealed for calm, directing security agencies to ensure swift action against those responsible. Police said additional deployments have been made in sensitive areas to prevent further flare-ups.
Rights groups and political observers warned that repeated attacks on student leaders, activists and journalists threaten democratic processes and could undermine the credibility of the upcoming polls. They urged transparent investigations and firm action to restore public confidence.
With elections approaching, analysts say the handling of the attack on Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar will be closely watched as a test of the authorities’ ability to contain violence and guarantee a peaceful electoral environment.
