Prominent leader of the ‘Save Dhaka’ campaign ambushed in Chawkbazar following high-profile advocacy against sidewalk encroachment and illegal auto-rickshaws.
Dhaka, Bangladesh | June 7, 2026
Sohani Shifa, a young civic activist who has gained widespread public attention for her rigorous campaigns to reclaim Dhaka’s public spaces, was injured in a knife attack on Sunday. The assault occurred in a narrow lane within the Chawkbazar area of Old Dhaka, a heavily congested commercial hub.
According to preliminary reports and video statements released by Shifa via her social media channels, she was ambushed by unidentified assailants while walking through the area. The attackers struck her with a sharp weapon before swiftly fleeing the scene. Following the incident, bystanders and supporters assisted in rushing her to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (commonly known as Mitford Hospital), where she received emergency medical treatment for her wounds.
While law enforcement authorities have launched an inquiry into the assault, officials have not yet confirmed the exact motive behind the crime. As of Sunday night, no suspects have been formally identified, and no arrests have been announced by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) representatives.
Shifa has recently emerged as a highly visible and vocal advocate for urban reform in the capital under the banner “Save Dhaka.” Her activism has primarily targeted the structural gridlock plaguing the city, specifically demanding that pedestrian footpaths be cleared of illegal occupation by street vendors and seasonal hawkers. She has consistently argued that the widespread encroachment of walkways forces pedestrians onto main roads, severely disrupting traffic flow and endangering public safety in the densely populated capital.
In tandem with her anti-encroachment stance, Shifa has been a fierce critic of municipal mismanagement, frequently speaking out against unregulated waste disposal in Old Dhaka and the exponential rise of unauthorized battery-run auto-rickshaws. While her campaigns have drawn praise from citizens frustrated by chronic traffic congestion, they have also drawn ire from vested local groups operating informal toll networks. Shifa has maintained that while street vendors should be systematically relocated to designated municipal commercial zones, major thoroughfares and pedestrian paths must remain completely unobstructed.
The violent incident has sparked intense concern across civil society networks and social media platforms. Rights defenders, civic groups, and citizens have strongly condemned the assault, demanding a transparent, expedited police investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice while calling for robust state protection for independent civic advocates.
📊 Incident Profile & Civic Advocacy Objectives
| Parameters | Case File Details |
|---|---|
| Victim Profile | Sohani Shifa (Civic Activist, “Save Dhaka” Movement) |
| Date & Time of Assault | Sunday, June 7, 2026 |
| Primary Scene of Crime | Chawkbazar Lane, Old Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Nature of Weapon Used | Knife / Sharp Instrument |
| Medical Treatment Facility | Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (Mitford Hospital) |
| Primary Campaign Pillars | • Hawker-free pedestrian footpaths |
- Relocation of vendors to designated zones
- Eviction of illegal battery-run auto-rickshaws
- Modernized urban waste management in Old Dhaka |
| Investigation Status | Open; suspects unidentified; no immediate arrests |
💬 Statements from the Activist and Campaign Manifestos
“I was attacked while walking through a lane in the Chawkbazar area. The assailants approached suddenly and struck before fleeing.”
— Sohani Shifa, in a video statement broadcasted from her social media platform post-incident“Footpaths must be kept entirely free for pedestrians. We are not against the livelihoods of vendors, but they must be systematically relocated to designated commercial areas rather than obstructing critical traffic arterial lines.”
— Sohani Shifa, outlined during a recent civic sit-in protest in Dhaka
Sources
- Verified video statements and digital dispatches published by Sohani Shifa.
- Clinical admission records and emergency care updates from Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital (Mitford Hospital).
- Local urban administrative briefs and field reports from Chawkbazar, Dhaka.
