Terrified residents scrambled for cover in the capital’s Gandaria neighbourhood on Sunday evening after armed miscreants opened fire indiscriminately near a commercial establishment. The sudden outbreak of violence unfolded amidst a street clash in the densely populated Munshirteek area, leaving three bystanders—including a young woman—hospitalised with bullet wounds.

Local residents rushed the victims to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) immediately following the shooting. Medical personnel confirmed that all three individuals suffered direct gunshot injuries as they were unexpectedly caught in the line of fire. The casualties have been identified as 33-year-old local tea vendor Alamgir, 18-year-old restaurant employee Siam, and 20-year-old local resident Asha Akter.

Describing the ordeal from his hospital bed, Siam explained that he works at an eatery in neighbouring Jatrabari and had travelled to Gandaria to visit his uncle’s tea stall. When shouting and violence erupted on the street without warning, Siam instinctively tried to pull down the shop’s metal shutter to safeguard those inside. A stray bullet struck him near the upper left side of his chest and shoulder before he could pull the shutter fully shut.

A few yards away, Alamgir was attending to customers at his own tea stall when the conflict broke out. His wife, Jannati Akter, stated that the sudden discharge of firearms sent panic through the street. Alamgir was standing inside the premises when a round penetrated the shopfront, striking him directly in the centre of his forehead.

The third victim, Asha Akter, was returning home along the same street when she found herself trapped in the middle of the confrontation. A stray round caught her in the right thigh, causing her to collapse onto the pavement. Asha noted that the dispute escalated so swiftly that neither she nor other panicked bystanders could identify the assailants or discern what sparked the confrontation.

Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH Police Outpost, confirmed that all three victims are receiving urgent medical care. Police units have launched an investigation to trace the gunmen, ascertain the motive behind the violent clash, and initiate criminal proceedings against those responsible.