Khulna, May 31 (UNB) – A local BNP leader was killed by unidentified criminals at Khornia village in Dumuria upazila on Wednesday night.

The victim was identified as Golam Mohammad alias Chuttak, 47, of the village and a member of Khulna Ansar and VDP. He was also publicity secretary of Khornia village unit of BNP.

Locals and family sources said Chuttak, a confirmed bachelor, had been missing since an unidentified man called him out of his house at 8.30pm on Wednesday.

Locals spotted his body near Khornia Union Parishad around 6.00am on Thursday and informed police.

Later, Dumuria police rushed in, recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy.

Victim’s brother Golam Rassul said Chuttak had a longstanding enmity with his neighbour Nazmul over the possession of a fish enclosure.  He suspected that Nazmul might have killed his brother over the conflict.

Chuttak is believed to have been beaten to death some time at night, police said.

M Mashiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Dumuria Police Station, said the reason behind the killing was still not clear yet. “We’ve launched an investigation into the murder,” the OC added.