Bullet-hit Mirpur trader dies at hospital

Shahid Hossain Shanto, 40, a businessman of garment accessories, received five bullets fired by two assailants in his office at a super market in Mirpur on June 14.

Shahid's wife Shahida Begum came to receive her husband's body from the DMCH morgue yesterday and said that before getting shot, Shahid had been talking about extortionists' demands.

Police sources said that Shahid was a close associate of Dhaka City Corporation Ward Commissioner Saidur Rahman Newton who was killed on May 10, 2002. Shahid started business after Newton's killing. Besides, he had disputes with some people over a piece of land.

"We are trying to find out the reason behind the killing of Shahid" said the officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station yesterday.

Local businesspeople in Mirpur complained that toll collection from businesses in the area has risen sharply.

Anonymous callers have been demanding tolls from them identifying themselves as followers of Shahadat, a notorious criminal of Mirpur who allegedly killed a number of businessmen in Mirpur area.