The dead was identified as Badsha Mia, joint secretary of Khetpara union Jubo Dal.

Police said Badsha came under attack at Chandpur crossing at about 2:30pm while returning home after attending a programme of Industries Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami in the upazila headquarters.

The extremists, numbering eight or ten, encircled Badsha and exploded bombs to create panic among local people, they said.

The culprits later stabbed Badsha indiscriminately in front of hundreds of people, leaving him dead on the spot, witnesses said.

On receiving information, police rushed to the scene and sent the body to Pabna General Hospital for autopsy.

Meanwhile, one Rohit Roy identifying himself as a member of Purba Banglar Communist Party (Janajuddha) phoned journalists and claimed the responsibility of the attack.