She was just a passerby but it was fateful day. Six armed men riding motorcycles fired bullets and one of them hit her fatally. The bullet was meant for an Awami League leader. Shipra Kundu, 46, was just another victim of the country's deadly politics.

She was the wife of Chittaranjan Kundu, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Development Bank Ltd of Khulna branch, and lived with her family on Islampur road of Khulna city.

Around 11:00am yesterday, the unknown miscreants chased and targeted ZA Mahamud Don, former ward councillor and publicity and publication secretary of Khulna city unit of AL, in Shitolbari Mondir area of the city and shot at him. But the bullet hit Shipra while the AL leader

escaped, said Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Khulna Sadar Police Station.

On the New Year's Eve, the news came as a thunderbolt to the family.

"We used to have a happy family," said Chittaranjan wailing at his house as hundreds of people gathered to say goodbye to his wife. Shipra went out of home to buy flowers for worship at the Shitolabari temple.

After being hit, she was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, the OC added.

Shipra's son Avijit Kundu and daughter Abonti Kundu study at Khulna University.

"It came as a thunderbolt to us," said Chittaranjan. Crying loudly over her coffin, Mrinmoy, a friend of Avijit, said, "She was like my mother. I'm from Natore but stay in Khulna for my studies. Now I'm motherless here."