Khulna, Nov. 13 -- A local BNP leader was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Rupsha upazila of Khulna on Thursday night.

The deceased was identified as Md Zakir Hossain, 43, a member of the search committee of the Rupsha Sadar union unit of BNP and son of Jalil Sheikh of Swalpobahirdia village.

Witnesses said Zakir, who owned a brick and sand trading business, was sitting in a shop in the village around 11pm when two helmet-wearing assailants riding a motorcycle appeared on the scene.

One of them entered the shop and opened fire on the BNP leader before they fled.

Locals rescued him and took him to the Rupsha Upazila Health Complex, where the on-duty physician declared him dead.

The body was sent to the morgue of Khulna Medical ...