An Awami League leader was shot dead allegedly by rivals over taking control of a char in the Padma in Pabna Sadar upazila yesterday.

The victim, Saidur Rahman Malitha, 50, of Char Bangabaria village, was a member of Pabna municipality unit AL.

Saidur had a rivalry with former chairman of Hemayetpur Union Parishad Alauddin Malitha, also the vice-president of Pabna Sadar upazila unit AL, over the issue, said police, quoting the victim's family.

Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said the attackers opened fire targeting Saidur when he came to the flood protection embankment in Char Bangabaria village around 1:30pm.

On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body.

Talking to The Daily Star, the victim's wife Dilruba Jahan alleged that her husband had a long-standing conflict with Alauddin over the char land.

"My husband had good relations with Alauddin Malitha. But conflict with him started brewing when he tried to occupy our land on the char. Recently, he threatened my husband repeatedly. Alauddin and his men killed my husband in broad daylight over the land dispute."

Russel Ali Biswas Masud, organising secretary of Pabna Sadar upazila unit AL, said the conflict was personal; no political rivalry was behind the killing.

Jahangir Alam, incumbent chairman of Hemayetpur Union Parishad, said. "We have tried to settle their dispute through arbitration, but failed."

Several cases are pending with court over the issue, he added.

A tense situation is prevailing in Bangabaria area after the incident, the chairman added.

Speaking to journalists after visiting the spot, Akbor Ali Munshi, superintendent of Pabna police, said police were deployed in the area to fend off further untoward incident.

"Police are investigating the incident. Criminals must be punished."

Despite repeated attempts over the phone, this correspondent could not contact Alauddin Malitha for his comments.