Mohammad Motaleb Sikder, a prominent leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and its labour wing, Jatiya Sramik Shakti, was shot in the head on Monday morning in what police describe as an incident stemming from internal conflict inside a rented flat used for drug consumption.
The 42-year-old, who serves as the Khulna divisional convener of the NCPโa brainchild of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunusโwas attacked around 11:45am in the Sonadanga area. Police said the shooting occurred inside the ground floor of an under-construction building called Mukta House on Al-Aqsa Mosjid Goli (also known as Mojid Sarani), near Gazi Medical College Hospital.
Inspector (Investigation) Animesh Mandal of Sonadanga Police Station told reporters: โThe bullet grazed Motaleb Sikder’s scalp and exited. Though there was bleeding, his life was saved. He is currently under treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital and out of danger.โ
Initially, the victim claimed he was shot by motorbike-riding assailants on the street, but CCTV footage and evidence led police to the flat. Deputy Commissioner (South) Mohammad Tajul Islam of Khulna Metropolitan Police said: โWe found the crime scene at Mukta House… We are certain that the shooting occurred due to internal conflict among those present.โ
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Police recovered a spent bullet shell, yaba consumption paraphernalia, foreign liquor bottles, and bloodstains from the two-room flat.
House owner Ashrafun Nahar told the media that a woman identifying herself as an NGO worker rented the ground floor about a month ago, claiming she would live there with her husband. However, Motaleb Sikder and several other men regularly visited and allegedly consumed drugs, prompting her to issue a notice to vacate by December 31.
Locals and the landlord reported hearing gunshots on Monday morning after several people, including Sikder, stayed overnight on Sunday.
NCP Khulna organiser Saif Newaz said Sikder was preparing for an upcoming divisional labour rally. Another organiser, Hamim Ahmed Rahat, described the attack as occurring during “personal work” and expressed hope that law enforcement would uncover the real cause.
Sikder’s mother stated that her son had no prior political involvement and began his political career with the NCP.
The party’s labour wing has formed an internal probe committee to investigate allegations of immoral activities or disciplinary violations by Sikder.
Following the incident, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) intensified security along the Jessore border area, including Benapole, to prevent suspects from fleeing to India.
49 BGB Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Saifullah Siddiqui said in a press release that maximum alertness has been maintained, with enhanced searches at all border points.
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