Unidentified gunmen open fired at Bangladeshi youth leader Motaleb Sikder in the head in the southwestern city of Khulna on Monday, raising fears of attacks on student and political activists. This is just days after the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, a top student leader, in a shootout in Dhaka earlier this month, with Hadi later dying in Singapore.
As per various reports in Bangladeshi media, Sikder was assaulted around 11:45 am in the Sonadanga area near Gazi Medical College Hospital. He was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital in a critical condition, reportedly bleeding heavily. As per information received from the hospital, the bullet passed through one side of his ear and went out through the other after touching his skin. Police have been informed that Sikder is no longer in a dangerous condition.
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Reportedly, the police said that an investigation has been launched for the purpose of establishing the identities of the attackers, as well as the reason for the shooting.
Who is Motaleb Sikder?
Motaleb Sikder is one of the top leaders in the National Citizen Party (NCP). As stated by the party’s release on the attack, Motaleb Sikder is the Khulna divisional head for the National Citizen Party. His additional position is the central coordinator for the Workers Front of the National Citizen Party.
Confirming the incident, the National Conference Party said, “The Khulna Division head of NCP (National Citizen Party) and central coordinator of the party’s workers front, Motaleb Sikder, was shot a few minutes ago.” However, the party has not yet commented on the reasons for which Sikder has been attacked.
Sikder has long been connected with political movements that are led by students and youths in Bangladesh. Press coverage has labelled him as one of the most important players in the students’ movement of 2004, which saw widespread turmoil at universities. He is now 42 years old.
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Local roots and political reputation
He is a resident of Sheikhpara Palli, Khulna’s Sonadanga, as reported by The Daily Star. He has been quite involved throughout the years in organisational activities, specifically in the labour and workers’ platforms as relevant to his political party.
Pattern in current attacks
This incident happened barely a week after the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, the 32-year-old spokesperson of a revolution outfit named Inqilab Mancha and the leader of the students’ movement last year, which toppled the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. Hadi was shot dead in an election campaign in the Bijoynagar area of the capital city of Dhaka on December 12. He died in Singapore, where he was undergoing treatment.
