According to reports, Musabbir had spent much of his time in jail during the Awami League regime.

Azizur Rahman Musabbir, a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) volunteer wing, Swechhasebak Dal, was shot dead in the country’s capital, Dhaka, amid ongoing violence ahead of the first nationwide election following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to reports.

Musabbir was shot by unidentified assailants near the Super Star Hotel in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar around 8:30 pm on Wednesday night. One more person was injured in the attack, local media reported.

Musabbir was rushed to a hospital but was declared brought dead.

The injured person has been identified as Sufian Byapari Masud, who is undergoing treatment. He sustained a gunshot wound on the left side of his abdomen.

Police said the two assailants fled the scene on foot. Following the incident, local BNP members staged protests.

According to reports, Musabbir had spent much of his time in jail during the Awami League regime.

Musabbir’s killing comes weeks after student leader Sharif Osman Hadi was shot. Hadi later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in Singapore on December 18. His death had triggered communal violence in the country.

Bangladesh is set to hold parliamentary elections on February 12, according to reports. 

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