Local Awami League and BNP are also holding programmes.

In last three days, a series of rallies and processions were held in the small town and a memorandum was submitted to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer demanding arrest and punishment of the killers.

On Thursday, a big protest meeting was held on the premises of Ashuganj Silo with Charchatala Union Council Chairman SM Kabir in the chair.

It was addressed by, among others, local traders' association leader Abul Kalam, Union Parishad member Md Ilias, teacher Md. Bahar Mia, Minto Mia Sarder, Hebjo Bhuiyan, fertiliser traders' assocation secretary Bakul Mia, upazila BNP secretary Zakir Hussain, Upazila Awami League secretary Md Abu Naser Ahmed, medicine traders' association president Mubarak Ali Chowdhury.Ashuganj Ferry Ghat Traders Association also held a protest rally on the same day.

After Jummah prayer on Friday, people from different mosques converged at Ashuganj Gul Chattar on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway and brought out a big procession.

On Saturday, traders at Ashuganj river port kept their shops closed demanding punishment to the killers.

Ashuganj upazila BNP and Awami League also held separate protest meetings. The multiple murder was committed on the night of November 20. The unidentified assailants killed Rafiqul Islam's mother Zabunnesa Ponkima, 95; his pregnant daughter Farzana Islam Sumi, 28; grand daughter Ridhi Moni, 4; his son Md. Marjan, 18 and caretaker of the two-storied house Md. Nurul Haque, 45.

According to police, the assilants probably entered the house by breaking open window grills.

Rafiqul Islam and his wife Helena Begum were in Madras, India for treatment when the murders were committeed. Islam's another son is working in Italy. Islam is known as a big trader in Ashuganj. Neighbours and villagers said they are not aware if Islam had any enemy in the area.

Villagers alleged that police are not serious about investigation.

The bodies bore marks of injury on heads and other parts, police later said.

Police so far arrested seven people --- Safar Ali, Alkas Mia, Titu, Sajal, Bashir, Abdur Rouf and Ripon Chandra Biswas. All of them were taken on remand.

Investigation officer (IO) of the case Sub Inspector Sayed Nurul Alam said they found 'some information' from the arrested persons but declined to disclose those.

Police headed by CID Inspector Kamal Uddin collected footprints from the floor of the house to identify the killers, the IO added.