Unidentified motorbike-riders gunned down Shaikh Mojibur Rahman, a small trader, at Baksibazaar Lane in the old part of the city.

Dropping his wife at Badrunnesa Women's College, Mojibur was going to Sadarghat by a rickshaw for business purpose before he came under attack at 9:50am.

"As the rickshaw reached some under-construction shops at 10/3, Bakshibazar Lane, two youths on a motorbike appeared before the rickshaw," a middle-aged wood trader who witnessed the incident told journalists. "Pulling out firearms, they started spraying bullets on him."

Receiving two bullets in the chest, two in abdomen and four in arms, Mojibur died in the arms of the rickshaw-puller, Ali Asgar, at the spot.

The rickshaw-puller took the victim back to the college to look for his wife. Failing to find her, he then took the profusely-bled Mojibur to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where he was confirmed dead.

The victim's brother Mozammel filed a case with the Lalbagh Police Station, which failed to arrest anyone till last evening.

At Kafrul, Osman Ghani died on the spot when a bullet fired by a gang of 6-7 hit his head at around 11:30am. Doctors at the DMCH declared the 35-year-old dead when his body was taken there at around 1:00pm.

The attackers positioned themselves at the Kachukhet area and two others went to call Osman, a member of Lalasarai unit of ruling BNP, out of his residence at 5/1, Damalkoat to go to Savar.

Osman got in a black taxicab with the two conspirators -- Sharif and Liton, Kafrul police said.

Sharif and Liton stopped the cab when it reached the Bikrampur Mistanna Bhander at Kachukhet and got out to buy cigarettes, allowing their associates to ambush Osman.

Family members said Osman worked for formation of a Lathi-Banshi committee (a citizen committee against crime and extortion) a year back and drove away local criminals and extortionists. Angry at his role, the criminals might have killed him, they alleged.

Kafrul police conducted a block raid in the area immediately after the incident and arrested Uzzal, Fakka Rana, Abdul Hekim and Emon on suspicion. They were being interrogated till filing of this report last evening.

However, Osman has also two assault cases filed against him with the police station.

Meanwhile, at Dhalpur in Demra, local criminals gunned down a Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) sweeper and wounded three others yesterday as a sequel of previous enmity.

About 25 operatives of local Nasir group allegedly sprayed bullets indiscriminately in front of the mosque inside 'Citypolli Basti' at 8:00am. Kamal and his nephew Babu were then going to work place at Jurain by a rickshaw.

The gang sprayed about 30 rounds of bullet on him, exploded homemade bombs and then left the place leaving them critically injured. Kamal received six bullets in his chest, abdomen and back.

Babu and Saddam, an employee of nearby shop, received bullet injury while the rickshaw-puller, Mannan Mia, received bomb injury.

Doctors at the DMCH declared Kamal dead after relatives rushed him there at about 9:15am.

Nasir got furious at Kamal as he helped police seize 8000 bottles of contraband phensedyl last Wednesday, locals alleged.

The victim's elder brother Moniruzzman filed a case with the Demra Police Station against local criminal Dilumuddin, Raza, Nasir, Sina, Mamun, Shamser, Kailya Khokon, Malek, Swapan, Baksu, Razzab, Shaizuddin and Linkon and 12 unidentified others.

Police arrested Shaizuddin.