Police in Khulna have arrested a young woman known as Tanima, also called Tanbi, in connection with the shooting of Motaleb Shikdar, a regional National Citizen Party-affiliated labour wing leader.

Detectives detained her late on Monday during a raid in the Tootpara area under Sadar police station, said Taimur Islam, officer-in-charge of Khulna Metropolitan Police Detective Branch.

Police said the shooting took place around 11 a.m. on Monday inside a flat rented by Tanima. The victim was hit near the ear, with the bullet passing through. Doctors at Khulna Medical College Hospital later described his condition as stable.

Investigators recovered yaba, empty liquor bottles, and a spent bullet casing from the flat after the incident. Police suspect Motaleb was shot by people who were with him at the time, possibly over a dispute linked to drugs and extortion, according to preliminary findings.

Tazul Islam, deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police’s southern division, said CCTV footage showed Motaleb staying at the ground-floor flat of Mukta House on Road 109 of the Al Aqsa Mosque Memorial area from Sunday night. He was taken out of the building before noon after he was shot on Monday morning.

Tajul said Tanima went into hiding after the shooting. Officers later seized one bullet casing, five liquor bottles, yaba, and drug paraphernalia from the premises.

“Initial investigation suggests they were involved in antisocial activities. The shooting followed an internal dispute,” Tajul said, adding that several others were involved and police are working to bring them under arrest.

Tanima had introduced herself as a member secretary of Khulna district Jubo Shokti, although police have not confirmed details of her role or commented on the legal steps taken following her arrest.

Ashrafun Nahar, the wife of the owner of Mukta House, said a woman identifying herself as Tanbi rented the flat about a month ago, claiming to be an NGO worker. She said Tanbi often stayed away from the house and was asked to vacate the flat this month after neighbours reported immoral activities.

Within the NCP, leaders sought to distance the party from the incident. Saif Newaz, an organiser of NCP’s Khulna metropolitan unit, said Motaleb was a central organiser of the party’s labour wing, National Labour Force, and served as its Khulna divisional convener. He had been preparing for a divisional labour rally in Khulna, scheduled in the coming weeks.

Hamim Ahmed Rahat, another NCP organiser in Khulna, said he expected law enforcement agencies to determine the real motive behind the shooting.

Khulna district coordinator Mahmudul Hasan Fayzullah said police were investigating and the party had no comment.

Motaleb Shikdar, a truck driver by profession, is the son of the late Moslem Shikdar from the Pallimangal School area of Sonadanga Sheikhpara. He was previously associated with the Labour League and joined National Labour Force, an NCP affiliate, several months ago.