A local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) youth wing was shot dead at a bus terminal in Bangladesh’s southwestern Magura district early Wednesday, October 21, in what witnesses described as a targeted attack by two motorcycle-borne assailants.
The victim, Md Shaker Hossain, 38, was a senior joint convener of the Magura municipal unit of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the BNP’s youth organization. He was working as a counter supervisor for Royal Express at Magura Central Bus Terminal when the attack occurred around 5 a.m.
An autopsy later confirmed that a bullet was lodged in his head, establishing that he had sustained a gunshot wound. Police have launched an investigation to identify the attackers and determine the motive.
Magura Superintendent of Police Molla Azad Hossain confirmed that a bullet had been recovered during the postmortem examination. He said investigators were examining evidence and attempting to obtain CCTV footage from the area.
Two Assailants Arrived on a Motorcycle
According to local witnesses, two men arrived at the Royal Express bus counter on a motorcycle early Wednesday.
One of them entered the counter while the other remained outside with the motorcycle.
Witnesses said the man waiting outside repeatedly sounded the motorcycle’s horn or increased its engine noise as his accomplice approached Shaker.
The attacker allegedly shot Shaker in the head before fleeing with the waiting motorcyclist.
The circumstances described by witnesses suggest that the assailants had selected Shaker as their target, although police have not established the motive or identified those responsible.
Shaker was found collapsed inside the counter shortly afterward.
Initially, people at the terminal believed he had suffered a stroke or another sudden medical emergency.
He was taken to Magura 250-Bed District Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
During the initial examination, doctors noticed a small wound at the back of his head, prompting them to alert police.
Bullet Recovered During Autopsy
The nature of Shaker’s death became clearer when doctors recovered a bullet from his head during the postmortem examination.
Hospital officials confirmed that the bullet had been discovered during the autopsy conducted Wednesday afternoon.
Superintendent of Police Molla Azad Hossain said the recovered projectile would be sent to Dhaka for ballistic examination.
He explained that investigators could not yet determine the type of firearm used in the killing.
Police were also attempting to collect CCTV footage and other evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Detective Branch and Criminal Investigation Department personnel joined the investigation, examining the scene and speaking with witnesses.
No arrests or confirmed motive had been reported in the accounts available following the autopsy.
BNP Activists Protest Killing
News of the killing prompted protests by local BNP, Jubo Dal and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists.
Demonstrators marched through Magura town and gathered near the bus terminal, demanding the immediate identification and arrest of the attackers.
Some protesters also blocked a road as tensions rose following the killing.
Magura-1 lawmaker Monowar Hossain Khan visited the area and urged residents and transport workers to remain calm.
He called for a prompt investigation and legal action against those responsible.
Speaking after visiting the hospital, the lawmaker suggested that the killing might have been planned.
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury also expressed concern over the shooting, describing it as a disturbing act of violence.
He called on law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators quickly and bring them to justice.
Family Demands Justice
Shaker was the son of the late Qutub Uddin of the Parnanduali Beparipara area of Magura town.
He was the youngest of three siblings and the father of two daughters.
His family said he had worked at the bus terminal to support his household while remaining active in local Jubo Dal politics.
His elder brother, Rajmir Hossain, demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the killing.
According to the family, Shaker had no known personal enemies.
His brother also said Shaker had faced 10 politically related cases over the preceding 17 years.
Shaker’s father-in-law, Abdul Aziz, described him as a son and demanded exemplary punishment for the killers.
Following the autopsy, Shaker’s body was handed over to his family Wednesday afternoon and taken to his home, where relatives and neighbours gathered to mourn his death.
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