Days after Hadi's assassination, Bangladesh labor leader shot in head
What's the story
A senior labor leader of Bangladesh's National Citizens Party (NCP), Md Motaleb Sikder, was shot in the head on Monday, just days after student leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi was assassinated. The incident took place around 12:15pm at a house in Khulna's Sonadanga area. Saif Newaz, an NCP Khulna metropolitan unit organizer, confirmed to the media that Sikder is the central organizer and Khulna divisional convener of Jatiya Sramik Shakti, the party's labor wing.
Health update
Sikder's condition stable after shooting incident
Sikder was reportedly preparing for a divisional labor rally in Khulna when he was shot. Initial reports stated that his condition was critical; however, it has now been updated that the bullet grazed his skull and he is stable. The shooting comes on the heels of high-voltage protests against student leader Hadi's assassination, which has directed local anger against India and resulted in tense relations between the two neighboring countries.
Unrest aftermath
Hadi's assassination sparks nationwide protests
Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 while traveling in a battery-powered auto-rickshaw in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area. Two assailants on a motorcycle allegedly pulled up alongside the rickshaw and shot him in the head. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors found severe brain stem damage. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was airlifted to Singapore on December 15 and admitted to Singapore General Hospital's neurosurgical intensive care unit.
Tragic end
Hadi's death and its impact on Bangladesh
Despite extensive medical efforts, Hadi died on December 18. He was a prominent figure in Bangladesh's 2024 student-led uprising and served as spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha (Platform for Revolution). His death triggered protests across the country, with demonstrators gathering at Dhaka's Shahbagh intersection and other cities demanding justice. Authorities have warned against further violence while assuring firm action against those responsible for the killing.