Mohammad Shahin, 22, a garment waste trader and son of Mofazzal Hossain of South Laxmankhola of Bandar, was settling business with labourers of Shohagpur Textiles Mills near his house at around 10:30am when the assailants swooped on him.

Up to 20 men, including Jakir, Mamun and Salam, held Shahin, also a higher secondary student at Government Tularam University College, and knifed him indiscriminately.

Shahin was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the attending doctors declared him dead on his arrival at 12:20pm.

Shahin's uncle Shah Alam told newspersons that Shahin, a BCL activist was killed over political enmity. "The attackers are activists of local units of BNP and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and also his rivals in business," he added.

Bandar police admitted Shahin was killed following political clashes in the locality but could not give any detail.