Two relatives were hit by bullets when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a human haulier on the Dhaka-Mawa highway in Keraniganj upazila of Dhaka yesterday afternoon.

The victims are Md Shahabuddin, 40, and his nephew Ali Hossain, 20.

Six people on three motorbikes suddenly fired around six shots at the vehicle near Shamsu Filling Station at Abdullahpur around 1:00pm, said Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Dakkhin Keraniganj Police Station, quoting witnesses.

Locals rescued the victims and sent them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The human haulier was heading for Nimtoli in Sirajdikhan upazila of Munshiganj from the capital's Nayabazar.

The victims were on the way to their village home at Baluartek of Keraniganj after treating Shahabuddin's elder sister Hosne Ara, 42, at the capital's Mitford Hospital. Hosne Ara was also with them.

Talking to The Daily Star at the hospital, Shahabuddin said he was hit by bullets in his left shoulder and left leg. His nephew Ali Hossain was shot in his abdomen.

Some 11 passengers were travelling on the vehicle, added Shahabuddin.

Police were yet to establish a motive for the gun attack.