Miscreants on motorbikes shot dead two persons inside a private car after chasing the vehicle for nearly half an hour on Bakalia access road in Chattogram early today.

The deceased were identified as Bakhtear Hossain alias Manik, 24, the driver of the car, and Md Abdullah, 23, who was in the front passenger seat, police said.

Two others, Robiul Islam Robin, 24, and Md Hridoy, 23, sustained injuries while attempting to flee and were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), police added.

Constable Zakir at the CMCH police camp confirmed that the four were brought in around 3:00am, and doctors declared Bakhtear and Abdullah dead upon arrival.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shakila Soltana said, "Two were shot dead in the incident. We are working to determine the motive behind the double murder."

Initially, police suspect that recently arrested criminal Choto Sazzad was involved in the attack, she added.

However, two CMP officials, requesting anonymity, said that listed criminal Sarwar Babla from the city's Bayezid area was also in the car during the shooting but managed to escape.

Injured Hridoy confirmed to The Daily Star at CMCH that Sarwar was among six people inside the private car.

Hridoy recounted that they were returning to the city from a sand-lifting site near Karnaphuli 3rd Bridge around 2:00am when a group of miscreants on four to five motorbikes started chasing them, opening fire from behind and both sides.

Manik, who was driving, suffered bullet injuries and stopped the car near the Chandanpura end of access road upon spotting a police patrol jeep ahead, Hridoy said.

"As soon as the car stopped, the assailants fired indiscriminately from different directions," he added. "Four of us in the backseat tried to flee, but Robin and I were hit. Sarwar and Imon managed to escape. Sarwar was likely the target of the attack."

Md Awal, a rickshaw puller residing near Shantibazar, said he was having his meal at home around 2:15am when he heard gunshots.

"I rushed outside and saw five motorbikes speeding towards Chandanpura. Moments later, the assailants fled the same way," he said, adding that each bike carried two riders.

Chawkbazar police seized the private car following the incident.

A visit to the police station in the morning revealed bloodstains on the driver's seat and multiple bullet holes in the rear windshield.