A Swechchhasebak Dal leader was killed during a clash between two groups of BNP men in Cumilla's Nangalkot upazila yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Md Selim Bhuiyan, 45, convener of Hesakhal union unit of Swechchhasebak Dal, said police.

Locals said there was a longstanding political rivalry between Gafur Bhuiyan, former BNP lawmaker, and Mobashwer Alam Bhuiyan, former president of the upazila BNP.

Yesterday, Selim, who was a supporter of Gafur, was heading to a political programme in Kakoitola area along with a few partymen.

On their way, supporters of Alam attacked them at Banggodda Bazar around 3:00pm, triggering a clash between the two groups, the locals claimed.

Selim was critically injured. He was taken to Nangalkot Upazila Health Complex where on-duty doctor declared him dead.

Medical officer at the hospital Md Masud Alam said the person was brought dead around 3:10pm.

"However, no injury mark was found in his body. The cause of his death could not be known immediately," he told The Daily Star.

Nangalkot Police Station's Officer-in-Charge AK Fazlul Haque said their preliminary probe suggests that Selim was killed during a clash between two groups of BNP men.

Gafur could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts.

Contacted, Alam said he knew nothing about the clash.