BNP Ward Leader Shot in Dhaka Footpath Attack

In a shocking act of violence in the heart of Dhaka, a businessman and former political leader was shot on a busy footpath near the reverse side of the Bashundhara City Shopping Complex. The victim, 55-year-old Shafiqul Rahman, is a former joint general secretary of the BNP’s 16th Ward and also operates as a shoe supplier in the local footpath market.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening, 22 February, at approximately 9:30 pm. Local sources reported that the bullet struck Shafiqul in his hand, though the assailant or assailants remain unidentified.

Shafiqul was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 11:00 pm, accompanied by a man named Shah Poran, who provided preliminary details of the attack. According to witnesses, the victim had been facing pressure from local extortionists for several days prior to the shooting, as they had been demanding “protection money” from his business operations.

Monir Hossain, who brought Shafiqul to the hospital, explained that Shafiqul had long balanced a dual life as both a politician and a footpath entrepreneur supplying shoes to local vendors.

Inspector Md. Faruk, officer-in-charge of the hospital police outpost, confirmed that Shafiqul was undergoing treatment in the emergency department. The bullet had struck the palm of his left hand, but he is currently stable. Police have launched an investigation but have not yet identified the perpetrators.

Incident Summary

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the attack to come forward as they investigate whether the shooting was politically motivated or connected to extortion-related disputes. Local residents expressed shock at the incident, citing that the footpath market had previously been considered relatively safe despite occasional disputes.

This latest attack highlights ongoing concerns over security for small business owners and political figures in Dhaka, particularly in crowded commercial areas.