Independent parliamentary candidate Sharif Osman Hadi was critically injured after being shot during an election campaign in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on Friday afternoon. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he remains on life support and is undergoing emergency surgery, according to hospital director Brigadier General Md Asaduzzaman.

Police said the attack occurred around 2:22 p.m. near the DR Tower in Paltan when three assailants on motorcycles opened fire, hitting Hadi below his left ear. His aides transported him to the hospital as he suffered severe blood loss, prompting an urgent search for B-negative blood donors. Hadi, a former student leader known for his role in the July uprising, had earlier reported receiving multiple death threats from domestic and international numbers.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the shooting, which has heightened security concerns ahead of the upcoming national elections. Political observers warn that the incident underscores rising tensions and potential risks for independent candidates in the current electoral climate.