Traders closed all entries to West Rampura Kitchen Market and beat the five youths with sticks after they went there allegedly to extort money at about 10:30am, witnesses said.

Police said Akhteruzzaman alias Jamal, 30, died from wounds two hours after he was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Nasir, 22, Shah Alam, 22, Masud Rana, 30, and Sabuj, 20, were also admitted to the same hospital with injuries. The first two were unconscious until 6:00pm yesterday.

Jamal's mother claimed her son was never involved in any crime.

"He was not part of any gang," the 55-year-old woman said.

"Criminals in Jamtola (near Rampura) where we once lived killed my son. It's the result of a conflict," said the woman who declined to be named for security reasons.

Khilgaon police said there is no criminal case against Jamal, born in Sanarpar in Narayanganj.

Quoting the traders, Sub-Inspector of Khilgaon Police Station Abdul Khair said two muggers first went to the market to extort tolls, as they did every month before.

"As traders refused to give them money, they left the market and went back in with three others who were waiting outside," Khair said.