The AL leader killed in a double-murder incident, Alimullah Aleem, 55, was president of Ward- 76 AL unit and also a former ward commissioner of Dhaka City Corpo-ration (DCC). The other killed with him, Abdur Rob Sardar, 65, was president of South Sayedabad Panchayet Committee.

Police and witnesses said around five assailants sprayed bullets inside a ground floor room of Aleem's five-storey house at Dayaganj Sardar Patti in Sutrapur killing the two. The incident took place when several people including Aleem and Rob were engaged in an arbitration at about 10:30 pm.

"I heard around 25 gunshots soon after a power outage. Immediately I opened a window and found Aleem lying on the alley. He was bleeding profusely," said Shaheeda Begum of a nearby house.

Then she and some others rushed to Aleem but he beckoned them to go inside the house, where they found Rob's body lying on the floor, she added.

Locals said there was no power supply in the area for about five minutes. Usually road lights are on when houses remain dark for load shedding.

Relatives and locals rushed Aleem and Rob to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where doctors declared Rob dead. He suffered about a dozen bullet wounds.

Aleem with two bullets in the chest died around midnight am at the DMCH.

Aleem's eldest son Rahatullah Liton said his father had no enmity with anyone. "I cannot understand who have killed my father."

No case was filed until yesterday afternoon and none was arrested.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) East Zone Mahbub Alam said Aleem was involved in drug trade in the locality and he might be killed due disputes with others over drug trade.

He also said police have identified those inside Aleem's house during the attack. "But they may not be linked to the double murders."

Shops and business establishments on Dayaganj Bazar Road and in South Sayedabad were kept closed yesterday protesting the killings.

Namaj-e-janaza of the AL leader was held at the party central office on Bangabandhu Avenue. AL central leaders took part in the Janaja.

In another incident, a gang of about five alleged criminals gunned down Omar Faruq alias Zahid, president of Cantonment Ward unit of BNP's youth wing Jubo Dal, at Kafrul around 9:30pm on Friday.

Relatives said Zahid, who was a 'phone-fax' trader, was shot dead soon after he came out of his residence at Kachukhet bazaar at Kafrul following a phone call.

Zahid suffered two bullet wounds. He was rushed to the DMCH (DMCH) where doctors declared him dead early yesterday.

The Jubo Dal leader's death sparked an untoward incident at the DMCH. About 100 aggrieved supporters of Zahid gathered at the hospital, alleging that lack of proper treatment and negligence of doctors left him dead.

They entered the emergency wing and operation theatre, smashed valuable equipment and furniture and assaulted doctors, nurses and employees.

The DMCH authorities however denied the allegations and said doctors and nurses performed their duties properly.

The authorities later filed a case with Ramna Police Station.

Bangladesh Medical Association condemned the incident of ransacking and demanded immediate action against those involved.

In the other incident, a police and Rab source, Farhad Hossain, 35,was shot dead by a gang in Mirpur on Friday night.

The victim's brother Sohrab Hossain told reporters at the DMCH,

"Farhad handed over a few of criminals to Rab and police recently and thus became target of their accomplices."

Farhad, who was a vegetable trader, was shot in Mirpur Section -1 at about 8:00 pm and succumbed to his injuries at the DMCH.

His wife filed a case with Shah Ali Police Station and police already arrested two alleged criminals -- Nannu and Momin-- suspecting their involvement in the killing.

Meanwhile, Shah Ali police recovered the body of a garment worker, Zakir Hossain, 20, from the Botanical Garden yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, the police recovered the slaughtered-body of Russel, 22, a fruit seller, at his Gabtola home in the capital's Moghbazar area yesterday.