The deceased, Khan Mirza Masud Jewel, 42, son of late Mokhtar Hossain Khan, was president of Satkhira district unit of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal, peasant front of the ruling BNP.

Jewel, a shrimp cultivator, was returning home from his shrimp enclosure in his village Dudlia. As he reached near his home at about 11:45pm, the criminals waiting there shot him and left the scene blasting three bombs, police said quoting local people.

Hearing the gunshots, locals rushed to the spot and found him lying in a pool of blood.

Police reached there after half an hour and sent the victim to Satkhira hospital in a critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries at about 1:00am.

The deceased was accused in several cases for murder, extortion and other crimes filed with Tala and Patkelghata police stations, sources said.

Police arrested three people for alleged involvement in the incident and picked up eight others for interrogation, Officer-in-Charge of Patkelghata Police Station Azam Khan said.

Meanwhile, Rajib Hasan, a self-styled regional commander of PBCP (Janajuddha), made phone calls to local journalists claiming responsibility for the killing.

A tense situation is prevailing in the area.