Bangladeshi investigators probing the shooting of National Citizens Party (NCP) leader Md Motaleb Sikder have uncovered disturbing details that point to illicit activities at the scene of the crime. During searches at the rented flat in Khulna where the attack occurred on Monday, police recovered bottles of alcohol, drug-related items and yaba — a methamphetamine-based substance commonly referred to as “crazy medicine.” Authorities are also searching for a woman named Tanvi, believed to be Sikder’s female companion, who had rented the flat and is now untraceable. Police sources say the premises were frequently visited by unknown individuals and were allegedly used for anti-social activities.
The shooting of Sikder came just days after the killing of anti-India radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi on December 12. While Hadi succumbed to his injuries and police are yet to identify his attacker, Sikder survived the shooting and is reported to be out of danger. As investigators piece together the circumstances surrounding Sikder’s attack, the case has taken a murkier turn with evidence of drugs, alcohol and questionable activity at the location. The disappearance of Tanvi, in whose rented flat the incident occurred, has further deepened suspicions.
Md Motaleb Sikder, also spelled Shikdar, serves as the Khulna divisional head and central organiser of Sramik Shakti, the labour wing affiliated with the National Citizens Party. He was shot in the head on Monday while inside a ground-floor flat in Khulna. In a striking similarity to the earlier attack on Osman Hadi, Sikder was hit near the ear. However, in his case, doctors said the bullet did not penetrate the skull, sparing him from a fatal injury.
According to police and medical officials, the bullet grazed Sikder’s left ear, cutting through the scalp before exiting without entering the skull. He was taken to hospital and later declared out of immediate danger, the Dhaka Tribune reported. Doctors said the injury, though serious, was not life-threatening.
Sikder was earlier associated with Sramik League politics but reportedly joined the labour wing of the NCP after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024. The Sramik League, a trade union aligned with Hasina’s Awami League, has since been banned. Several NCP leaders, including Hasnat Abdullah, have been vocal in spreading anti-India rhetoric both before and after the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi. The back-to-back attacks on Hadi and Sikder have raised concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, casting doubt on whether the national elections promised for February can be held as scheduled.
Investigators examining the flat where Sikder was shot found six bottles of alcohol, drug paraphernalia and tools used for consuming yaba. A spent bullet shell was also recovered from the ceiling, according to the Dhaka Tribune. Police believe a gathering involving alcohol and drugs took place at the flat on the night before the shooting.
Yaba, which translates to “crazy medicine” in Thai, is a tablet containing a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine. It is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system and is commonly crushed and smoked rather than swallowed. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the drug produces an intense surge of energy, reduced appetite and a temporary sense of euphoria, followed by severe physical and psychological effects.
Khulna Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tajul Islam said preliminary investigations suggest that those present at the flat were engaged in anti-social activities and that the shooting may have resulted from an internal dispute. He added that multiple individuals were likely involved and that further questioning of Sikder could reveal more names linked to the incident.
The woman identified as Tanvi, who rented the flat where the shooting occurred, is currently missing. Police say the flat had been rented from November 1 by Tanvi, who introduced a young man as her husband and claimed she worked for an NGO. According to the property owner’s family, strangers frequently visited the flat, raising suspicions about what was going on inside.
Ashrafunnahar, the wife of the house owner, told BD24 News that Tanvi often stayed out and that many men regularly visited her room. After learning from neighbours about alleged anti-social activities at the flat, the owners had issued a notice asking her to vacate the premises. The shooting occurred before she could leave. Following the incident, Tanvi reportedly locked the flat and went into hiding. Police said efforts are underway to trace her whereabouts.
Investigators are also examining Sikder’s background. Police sources told the Dhaka Tribune that they are probing whether the shooting was linked to an internal dispute, possibly involving the distribution of extortion money. Sikder is alleged to have had past associations with criminal elements in Khulna and may have been involved in extortion activities alongside individuals connected to a known local criminal.
According to police, Sikder initially misled investigators by claiming he was shot from the street. However, CCTV footage contradicted this version. The footage showed him exiting the rented house, clutching his ear and being assisted by another person before taking a rickshaw to Khulna Medical College Hospital. This led investigators back to the flat, where they uncovered evidence of alcohol, drugs and information pointing to Tanvi’s involvement.
Leaders of the NCP have rejected the police findings and alleged political motivations behind the investigation. NCP Khulna Metropolitan organiser Ahmed Hameem Rahat claimed Sikder was shot in the Sonadanga area and accused groups linked to the Awami League of orchestrating the violence. District Chief Coordinator Mafuzul Hasan Faizullah alleged that Sikder was dragged from his car and shot. Police, however, said these claims are not supported by evidence so far.
As the investigation continues, the trail of illegal substances, the circumstances surrounding the rented flat and the disappearance of Tanvi are expected to play a crucial role in revealing the true motive behind the shooting. Once all the pieces come together, authorities believe the case may expose deeper criminal links within the NCP and shed light on the wider pattern of violence and instability gripping the country.
