Police said Sujan Kumar Das (Mohammad Raihan) was accused in five murder cases and a close associate of infamous criminals-- Shahdat, Khorshed, Rajib and Mintu-- in the Mirpur area.

The 25-year-old hailed from Ramgar in Khagrachhari and he was residing at a house on the Commissioner Road in Jurain in Sutrapur.

Rab members arrested Sujan from the capital's Kotwali area on Wednesday and he admitted to have links with the Mirpur gangsters during interrogation.

Following Sujan's information, a team of Rab-4 took Sujan to raid the criminals' dean at Shialbari early yesterday to seize arms and arrest his accomplices.

A Rab release claimed that when they reached the area, Sujan's accomplices opened fire on them from hideout, compelling the crime busters to retaliate.

At one stage of the shootout, Sujan tried to escape and died on the spot having caught in the line of fire. Two Rab members were also injured during the incident, the release stated.

Rab members recovered one pistol and four round bullets from the spot.

Meanwhile, two convicts of the Barisal city were killed in 'crossfire' with Rab early yesterday at the BSIC water tank area, reports Our Barisal Correspondent.

Ziaul Hassan Suhad was sentenced for 108 years rigorous imprisonment under the Public Safety Act and Rafiqul Islam Pipal for 32 years in a murder case. Rafiqul was an accomplice of Ziaul.

Accused in more than dozen criminal cases, the two moved freely at the courtesy of their godfathers in a ruling party.

Captain Zamil of the Rab-8 said Ziaul was caught from the Kawnia area at about 10:00pm on the Wednesday night hours after the arrest of Rafiqul.

Following interrogation, a Rab team went to the BSIC water tank area along with them to recover arms.

Associates of the two arrestees opened fire on the team in an effort to snatch them away at about 3:15am yesterday. The two criminals were caught in crossfire when they tried to flee.

Rab said they recovered one revolver, one gun, one pipe gun and six rounds of bullet.

Local people brought out processions in the area with the spread of the death news.

Sources said Ziaul, a former BCL cadre and leader of the notorious Suhad Bahini, was a terror of the city during the AL regime.

After alliance government came into power he along with his gang joined the Akbar Bahini led by Jubo Dal leader Bihari Akbar.