The National Citizens Party (NCP) has condemned and expressed deep concern over the shooting attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 and spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha, in Bijoynagar on Thursday.

In a statement issued Friday evening, NCP Joint Member-Secretary and Media Cell Secretary Mushfiq us Salehin said the attack was “a serious blow to the democratic process restored through public mobilisation.”

The party wished a quick recovery for Hadi, who was critically injured, and urged the nation to keep him in their prayers.

The NCP said the incident raises significant questions about the country’s law-and-order situation and the overall electoral environment. It expressed concern that no effective security measures were taken despite Hadi publicly reporting earlier threats to his life.

The statement also noted previous incidents of crude bomb attacks near the NCP party office and alleged threats made to another candidate, calling the overall security lapses “unacceptable”.

The party urged the government to identify and arrest the attackers along with those who may have supported or planned the incident. It also called for a full investigation into the source of the threats issued to Hadi.

The NCP appealed to democratic forces, civil society and the public to speak out against violence targeting election candidates and reaffirmed its commitment to participating in the upcoming polls despite threats and intimidation.

Hadi shifted to Evercare Hospital after surgery, no bullet found in head

The party further demanded stronger security measures for all candidates and citizens to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

Hadi suffered bullet injuries during an election campaign on Friday afternoon.

He was shot by miscreants around 2:30pm while campaigning, said Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). 

He was later taken to DMCH for treatment.