Witnesses said Engineer Aminul Islam,chairman of Khagaria Union Parishad, came under attack while he was coming out of an arbitration at Madarkhil at about 7:30pm.

The gunmen, lying in wait in adjoining Biyapara jungle, opened fire on Aminul and left the scene. He died instantly.

Satkania police confirmed the incident,but could not give details till the filing of this report at 9:00pm.

Mentionable, locals blamed the Jamaat-Shibir cadres for the killing. They alleged that Jamaat-shibir cadres killed the UP chairman for joining the BNP.

Aminul Islam, who was a Jamaat-backed UP chairman, joined the BNP along with two other Jamaat-backed UP chairmen--Ahmedur Rahman Chowdhury alias Ahmudya and Abdus Satter --last year.

Ahmedur Rahman Chowdhury alias Ahmudya, also a listed top-notch criminal of the district, was killed in 'crossfire' a few months back.