A former leader of the banned East Bengal Communist Party was shot dead by unknown criminals in broad daylight in Monirampur upazila of Jashore this afternoon.

Deceased Rafiqul Islam (55), resident of Modhupur village of the upazila, was a former regional commander of the banned party, our Benapole correspondent reports.

Rafiqul, who used to run a battery-run easy bike, came under attack at Hajirhat while returning to Manirampur after dropping off passengers at Sundali Bazar in the afternoon, locals said.

Hearing the sound of gunfire, locals rushed to the spot and saw Rafiqul lying beside his easy bike, said Pranab Kumar Biswas, a member of Kuchlia union.

On information, police visited the spot and recovered the body.

The criminals shot two bullets in his chest and right arm and also stabbed him, said Manirampur Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Shikdar Matiar Rahman.

He said Rafiqul was accused in several cases filed with the local police station.

According to locals, he resigned from the banned party and returned to normal life and used to support his family with earnings from the easy bike.

The body was sent to Jashore General Hospital for autopsy. A murder case was filed with Monirampur Police station.