Our correspondent from Pabna reports: A regional leader of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML-Red flag) was killed in a gunfight between the Rab and his accomplices at Dhopaghata village in Pabna sadar upazila.

Rab-5 sources at Pabna said they had arrested Mokhtar Hossain Bachchu, 25, at C&B Bazar in Bera upazila on Friday and took him to the zonal headquarters for interrogation.

Following his statement, a Rab team took him to the Chakdarpara village early yesterday to recover hidden weapons and arrest his accomplices.

Rab officials said as they reached a nearby Dhopaghata village at about 2:00am, the outlaws opened fire on them, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate.

Mokhtar died on the spot when he was caught in the crossfire. His accomplices, however, managed to escape, the Rab officials added.

One shutter gun, three bullets and some sharp weapons were recovered from the spot.

The body was sent to the Pabna General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Rab sources said Mokhtar was accused in a number of cases, including three for murder.

Our Magura correspondent reports: A regional leader of outlawed Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF) was killed in "crossfire" during a shootout between his accomplices and the police in Shailakupa upazila of Jhenidah district in the early hours yesterday.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team of Sreepur Police Station raided Mashalia village in the upazila in Magura district and arrested Baka, 40, alias Bijoy alias Biplob around 1:30am and took him to the police station for interrogation.

Police later took him to Thakur Malithia village in Shailakupa to recover arms. As they reached a field in the village around 3:45am, the GMF operatives opened fire on them. Police retaliated with shots, causing an hour-long gunfight.

Baka, caught in the crossfire, died on the spot while he attempted to flee, police claimed.

Two police constables, Firoz and Monir, were also injured during the shootout.

Police retrieved two country-made guns, two shutter guns and six bullets from the spot.

Baka, hailed from village Borobari-Bogra in Shailakupa upazila, was accused in 12 criminal cases including eight for murder.