Just after the blasts, a man, introducing himself as MA Jihad and organiser of al-Qaeda network for Khulna division, talked to the local newsmen over phone and claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks.

Police said three bombs were hurled at local BNP leader Azim, 35, at Amanatpur village under Ailchara Union at about 9:30pm, injuring him critically.

In another incident at the same time, two bombs were hurled at Rashid Agrofood, a rice mill owned by a BNP leader. No one was injured in the blasts.

The rice mill came in the limelight last month when Rab and police cordoned it off in their hunt for militant kingpins Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai.