Keraniganj BNP leader shot on first day of election campaign

He has been taken to DMCH in critical condition

A union-level leader of the BNP has been shot in Keraniganj on the outskirts of Dhaka on the very first day of the official launch of election campaign.

Hasan Mollah, general secretary of Hazratpur Union BNP, was brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in critical condition after the shooting.

The incident took place around 9pm on Thursday outside the BNP office in Ward 9 of the union.

Keraniganj Model Police Station chief Md Saiful Alam said Hasan was shot by assailants while returning from a sermon at Dhalikandi.

“The attackers opened fire and fled the scene. The victim was taken to Dhaka for treatment,” the OC said.

Hasan was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 10:45pm, police said.

Rakib Hossain, the brother of the injured man, said his brother was returning home from a sermon when he was shot "near the house of Hazratpur Union chairman", Keraniganj.

He said unidentified assailants arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire at close range and fled the scene immediately.

Inspector Md Faruk of DMCH Police Outpost said Hasan is undergoing treatment in the emergency department, adding that the bullet struck the right side of his abdomen.