Bishu Aich, 32, who works at Pratidin Store, was injured when a gang of muggers hurled bombs on a mob chasing them in front of Mannan Market to make their escape.

In a critical condition, Bishu was rushed to the hospital where he died at around 12.15am following a lengthy operation.

Protesting the killing, the traders of Chawk Bazar and adjoining areas wore black badges and held a rally in front of Mannan Market yesterday, with president of Chawk Bazar Traders' Association Abul Kalam Azad in the chair.

They demanded immediate arrest of the criminals and immediate steps to ensure safety of the traders and others in the area.

The sudden death of Bishu left his wife Mita Aich, 28, devastated and speechless. "My happy little world has been destroyed by a bomb," were the only words she could utter before the journalists.

Bishu and Mita, who works as a shift-in-charge at a garments factory, were married five years ago.

They had no child, yet they were a happy couple, said her father Ranjit Dey at his house at Haji Colony at Fultali, Chawk Bazar.

Police filed a case with Kotwali Police Station in connection with the bomb attack.