Mystery shrouds the murders with some quarters blaming a section of ruling party leaders and police suspecting that it could be sequel to a row over reconstruction of the Amla-Halsha road involving Tk 2.22 lakh.

BCL leaders Sanwar Hossain Jibon, Mizanur Rahman Maznu and Liton Hossain were called over cell phone and taken to Durbeel canal at Nawda Azampur village on the night of March 24. Their slaughtered bodies were found there next morning.

"We are trying to find clues to the murders and investigation is going on," Mujibur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mirpur police station told this correspondent.

Other sources in police said they are looking for local BNP cadre Makim and his father Sahajahanin of Nawda Azampur village in connection with the murders.

They said Makim and Sahajahan belong to a gang named Taizal Bahini, which was engaged by the contractor to supervise the road reconstruction work.

The contractor, Naruzzaman alias Hablu Mollah, is general secretary of Daulatpur upazila Jubo Dal and a relative of a ruling party lawmaker, sources said.

Hablu Mia, accused in several cases including some for murder, is absconding since Rapid Action Battalion Rab) started its anti-crime drive in the area in 2004.

Sources said Abdul Haq, general secretary of Mirpur upazila BNP and chairman of Sadarpur UP, was supervising the work on behalf of Hablu Mollah. Abdul Haq had also dropped the tender for the work in favour of Hablu Mollah.

This correspondent during a visit to the area also talked to some local people. They said discontent was brewing in the area as substandard and low quality materials were being used for the road reconstruction work but none dared to protest as the contractor was a ruling party man and the work was being looked after by some 'musclemen'.

They said BCL activists Sanwar Hossain Jibon, Mizanur Rahman Maznu and Liton Hossain raised voice and organised people to protest the poor quality work. Sanwar was vice-president of Mirpur upazila BCL.

Sanwar and Maznu, who worked at Toshiba Rangs factory, recently came home. The three BCL activists were popular in the area, local people said.

The local people also alleged police inaction in investigating the murders and arresting the killers.

However, two days after the incident, outlawed Janajuddho claimed responsibility for the murders. One Rahul Raj, introducing himself as a 'regional leader' of Janajuddho branded the BCL leaders as 'extortionists' and termed the murders as their struggle against 'class enemy'.

On the other hand, Mahbub Alam Hanif, vice-president of Kushtia Awami League (AL) at a press conference on March 28 alleged that

a local ruling party lawmaker was behind the killings. But the lawmaker, who is a top leader of Kushtia BNP, dismissed the allegation as false.

"Awami Leaguer leader Hanif is trying for political gains from the incident", he told this correspondent.

"The AL leader is blaming me while an outlawed party has claimed responsibility for the killings", he said when contacted over cell phone.