The body of Bijon who died in Savar was driven back to Khulna, said a late night report. No further details could be available.

Bijon accompanied Imam in a rickshaw to work when a gang opened fire and exploded a string of bombs.

In another development, Joint Secretary of Khulna district Awami League Ashrafuzzaman Babul survived an attempt on his life by outlaws at noon on Monday while he was returning home at Icegati union of Rupsha upazila.

According to eyewitnesses and sources, a group of 10 armed cadres of the PBCP-Tapan hurled a powerful bomb at Ashrafuzzaman Babul. But the bomb missed him by a few inches as he quickly took cover at Jahanabad Salt Industry. Two roadside shops were blown up in the explosion that rocked the entire area. The AL leader filed a general diary with Rupsha Police Station.

Meanwhile, one of the seven people arrested so far for suspected links to the killing of Imam has confessed to plotting the murder.

The officer-in-charge (OC) of the Kotwali Police Station said Shukur Gazi, an outlaw, has confessed to his involvement in the plan to murder Imam. The OC quoted Shukur's confessional statement and said the killing squad had six members who were present at the spot in two groups.

The other arrestees are Ripon Sheikh, Shaheen Molla, Mahmudur Rahman Suman, Rezwan Molla, Abdur Razzak and Rajib Sarder. Of them, three were placed on a three-day remand.

Police said three out of the seven arrestees are members of outlawed groups. "We are questioning them," the OC said. He replied in the negative when asked whether the ruling BNP could be involved in the killing.

A sawn-off gun, four live cartridges and ingredients for making bombs and leaflets of the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-Janajuddha) have also been recovered.

Abdullah Al Mamun Jami, 28, the youngest son of the slain AL leader, filed a case with the Kotwali Police Station, accusing no one.

"I won't allow anyone to politicise the killing of my father, though pressure is there to do so," Jami told journalists.

His elder brother Rumi, 30, attended a condolence meeting at Shahid Hadi Park yesterday morning. Rumi also refused to blame any political party for the murder. Rather, he urged people to pray for the peace of the departed soul. "I appeal to you to offer special prayers seeking the mercy of the Almighty so that the soul of my father may rest in peace," Rumi said.

Meherunnessa Begum, wife of Imam, also requested the AL leaders not to make the murder a political issue.

Khulna district and city units of the Awami League have announced a 20-day programme to protest the murder. Imam was laid to rest yesterday at his family graveyard at Boyra, Khulna. Thousands of people attended his burial.

Normalcy was returning to the city a day after life was disrupted by an outbreak of violence following the killing.