Listed criminal Yasin Khan Palash, widely known as “Kailla Palash”, was critically injured after being shot by unidentified assailants in the capital’s Rampura area on Friday afternoon.

Palash, 50, sustained two gunshot wounds to the head and is undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

According to police, the shooting took place around 1:45pm in front of a sweetmeat shop in the Royal Market area under Rampura police station.

Officer-in-Charge of Rampura police station Jahangir Alam said Palash was returning home after offering Jumma prayers when a group of assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire before fleeing the scene.

“He was shot twice in the head. The motive behind the attack and the identities of those involved are yet to be determined,” the OC said.

Locals rushed the critically injured Palash to DMCH, where he was admitted to the emergency department. Hospital sources said his condition remained critical.

Speaking to reporters at the hospital, Ibrahim Mia, a security guard at Palash’s residence, said a young man approached and shot him before fleeing on the back of a waiting motorcycle.

“The attacker fired several shots into the air while escaping,” he claimed.

According to family members, Palash was released from prison on bail about a month ago.

Police said Palash, son of Yunus Khan of West Rampura, was once included in law enforcement agencies’ list of top criminals.

He was convicted in the murder case of Jubo Dal leader Mizanur Rahman Mizan, who was shot dead in Rampura on 29 May 2002. A trial court sentenced Palash to death in the case, but the High Court later commuted the sentence to life imprisonment.