Family members of the slain said the incident occurred when Matiur Rahman alias Nakshatra, 30, joint convenor of Kushtia district ASL, was brushing his teeth in front of his house at Chaler border area, adjacent to the Milpara Police Camp in the town.

Witnesses said at about 8:30am a gang of three who allegedly belong to 'Akhter Bahini', came by a motorbike, shot Nakshatra point blank and made a swift escape. Nakshatra died on the spot.

Police went to the spot hours later and sent the body to general hospital for autopsy.

Police suspect the killing might be the result of rivalry between 'Hamidul group' and 'Akhter group', two bands of criminals battling for the control of the area. They (police) said Nakshatra, also an accused criminal, had allegiance to 'Hamidul group'.

Police said four armed cadres were killed and at least 19 others including five law enforcers injured in a fierce gunfight among these two groups and police on May 19 last month.

Meanwhile, police could not yet find any clue to the killing of eight Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF) cadres on Sunday.

Sources said Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Khulna range Abdul Aziz Sarkar on Saturday in a meeting with superintendents of police of Kushtia, Jhenidah and Chuadanga ordered to launch a special drive in the region to resist the downward slide in law and order. Police, however, could not yet nab any of the killers.

At least 50 people were murdered in the district since January, with 20 in the last month alone.

At least 70 people including 18 school and college students were abducted. Eight of them including three schoolboys were killed while others had to pay hefty ransom for their release.

Awami League, Jubo League and ASL brought out a procession in the town yesterday evening to protest at the killing of Nakshatra and accused the 'ruling goons' of the murder.