Two activists of Juba Dal, an associate body of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, were shot inside a BNP office in Khulna city on Thursday.

The incident took place at around 1.45pm at the BNP office adjacent to Putimari Bazar under Labanchara police station in the city, police and local sources said.

The injured are Masum Billah, 35, and Zahid, 35. Both are undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital.

According to police and local people, the two victims along with several others were sitting and chatting inside the BNP office when a man named Parvez entered the office. At one stage, an argument reportedly broke out between them over an issue.

During the altercation, Parvez allegedly opened fire targeting Masum and Zahid. Bullets hit Masum in the left thigh and Zahid in the right arm, triggering panic and tension in the area.

The accused fled the scene immediately after the shooting.

On information, police from Labanchara police station rushed to the spot and inspected the scene.

Officer-in-charge Syed Mosharraf  Hossain said the injured men were involved in local business activities and were sitting at the BNP office at the time of the incident.

‘A young man arrived on a motorcycle and fired several rounds at them before fleeing the area,’ he said.

The policr officer said locals informed police that Masum is president of the Putimari Bazar Committee and also a member of Juba dal.

Senior police officials also visited the spot after receiving the information, he added.

Police have already launched a drive to arrest the accused involved in the shooting, the OC said.