Bangladesh Protests Turn Violent After Hadi Killing, Student Leader Shot in Khulna

A second high-profile shooting of a youth leader has deepened concerns over Bangladesh's law and order, as protests continue after the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. On Monday, NCP labour organiser Md Motaleb Sikder was shot in Khulna, adding fresh tension to streets already filled with anger and grief.

The two attacks, carried out within the same month, have focused attention on political violence and security for activists. Hadi's death on December 18, following a gun attack in Dhaka days earlier, became a rallying point for demonstrators, who accuse authorities of failing to protect dissenting voices.

Bangladesh protests: background to student leader Sharif Osman Hadi's killing

Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 while travelling in a battery-powered auto-rickshaw through Dhaka's Bijoynagar area. Local media reported that two people on a motorcycle allegedly drove up beside the vehicle and fired at Hadi's head before fleeing, leaving bystanders in shock.

He was rushed first to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors reportedly found serious brain stem damage. As Hadi's condition deteriorated, he was airlifted to Singapore on December 15 and admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit at Singapore General Hospital, where specialists tried to stabilise the injuries.

Bangladesh protests: shooting of NCP labour leader Md Motaleb Sikder

While protests over Hadi's killing were still spreading, NCP labour leader Md Motaleb Sikder was shot in the head at a house in Khulna's Sonadanga area around 12.15 pm. Party organisers said Sikder, aged 42, is the central organiser and Khulna divisional convener of Jatiya Sramik Shakti, the NCP's labour wing.

According to party leaders, Sikder had been busy preparing for a divisional labour rally in Khulna that was scheduled in the coming days. Initial accounts described Sikder's condition as critical, but later party sources said the bullet only grazed the skull and Sikder was considered stable after treatment.

Hadi had been a visible face of the 2024 student-led uprising and served as spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha, or Platform for Revolution. Hadi was also preparing to run for the Dhaka-8 parliamentary constituency in Bijoynagar during the next general elections, expected in February 2026.

Known for strong criticism of India and its influence in Bangladesh's internal politics, Hadi often spoke out after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India following the 2024 uprising. These positions made Hadi a significant figure for many young activists who opposed the previous government.

After Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Hadi died on December 18 despite extensive treatment, demonstrations intensified. Protesters gathered at Dhaka's Shahbagh intersection and other cities, demanding justice and rapid arrests, while authorities warned against further violence and promised firm action against those behind the killing and related unrest.