Independent candidate Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Mancha, was critically injured after being shot in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on Friday afternoon. Police said the attack occurred while Hadi was traveling in a battery-run rickshaw following a campaign event. A motorbike passenger fired a single bullet that struck Hadi in the head before fleeing. He underwent emergency surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and was later transferred to Evercare Hospital, where his condition remains critical.

Authorities have yet to identify the assailants, though Hadi’s associates suspect individuals who had been accompanying him during campaign activities. Photos and CCTV footage are being analyzed, and police have urged the public to share any information. Veteran crime reporters described the shooting as the work of a professional marksman due to its precision from a moving vehicle.

The attack came a day after the national election schedule was announced for February 12. The Inquilab Mancha has blamed political rivals and demanded government accountability, warning that failure to ensure safety could undermine public trust ahead of the polls.