Thousands of grieving people flocked to Chittaranjan Road in Sadarghat yesterday to attend the namaz-e-janaza of the 56-year-old and his 29-year-old son Sheikh Russell, who were hacked into more than 250 pieces in the latest in a series of violent attacks on businesspeople in the last three months.

Filled with overwhelming outrage, the business community staged a rally attended by a huge crowd demanding quick punishment to the killers.

"We don't want to die this way ... we want to live a peaceful life and die naturally," said MAS Samad, ward commissioner and businessman, thrusting his fist in the air.

"We (businesspeople) don't meddle in politics. We just want security," Samad said amid angry shouts of demonstrators, who later took out a silent procession in the matrix of bustling Old Dhaka streets.

Traders from Islampur, Kalimandir and Banglabazar have expressed solidarity with the protesting Sadarghat business-people on today's strike. The demonstrators will send a petition for a speedy trial of the killers to the home ministry.

The remains of the father and the son, brought to light in a macabre morning find on Sunday in Gazipur two days after their driver was found hacked to death in a car, were driven to their home village in Louhajang in Munshiganj for burial.

Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina visited Haq's wife and daughters to offer her condolences. Hasina, also Awami League president, briefly addressed a crowd in the shell-shocked neighbourhood and demanded justice. "The ruling party (BNP) patronises the killers and police turn a blind eye to them," she alleged.

Hasina urged people living next door to the slain fabrics trader' home to come forward to take care of the family and stressed that she was ready to fight crime at risk to her own life, if necessary.

Later in the day, Dr Kamal Hossain, convenor of the National Platform for Unity, also visited Haq's family to convey his condolences.

"Killings have become commonplace. It's time we united to fight crime. We demand trial of the killers," he said.

"Please inform us if there is any discrepancy in investigation and legal steps," Dr Kamal, a renowned lawyer, asked the bereaved.

A three-member committee headed by Assistant Professor Habibuzzaman Chowdhury carried out an autopsy at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Palash Khan, brother-in-law of Haq, received the bodies from the hospital at 3:30pm.

Sekander Ali, a DMCH morgue assistant, said the killings were exceptional for their brutality. "I have never ever seen such gore in 23 years of my work."

FRIENDS OR KILLERS

Police are yet to arrest Kajal, accused as the prime suspect in a case filed with Sutrapur Police Station, but a man popularly known as Guddu arrested with potential links to the killings was taken on a five-day remand. A police forwarding report links Guddu as an associate of Kajal.

Kajal allegedly led an armed gang that unleashed a reign of terror in Sadarghat area by running extortion rackets and carrying out murders and other crimes. Haq and his family friend Kajal co-owned SH Mansion in Sadarghat.

Haq's family says Tk 2 lakh he took with him when left home on Friday was meant for defending Kajal in court in a murder case.

"They were so close ... it is hard to believe Kajal could be the man to kill him," one of Haq's family friends said.