Jhenidah police said Moslem Uddin, 45, went to see his paddyfield near his home at about 11:00pm and came under the attack.

Family sources said Moslem, who had a long-standing rivalry with the ruling party cadres, returned home recently after he had left the village soon after the election of 2001 in the face of threats from the BNP men.

Police recovered the body yesterday morning and sent it to Jhenidah Sadar Police Station for autopsy.

Local AL blamed ruling BNP for this killing. The BNP men rejected the allegation.

A case was filed with the Kaliganj Police Station accusing 20 people.

No arrest was reported till 8:00 in the evening.