The arrestee, Mamunur Rashid Mamun, city unit organising secretary of BNP, was one of the top-listed criminals of the city and he remained out of police dragnet for long as Minu was sheltering him, police said.

Rab members picked him up along with a firearm from Sastitala at around 10:00pm on Sunday, a Rab press release said.

Following Mamun's statement during interrogation, Rab men at around 2:00am took him to a field near Bangabandhu College at Bhadra where Mamun dug out a local one-shooter gun.

Later when the Rab team was taking Mamun towards Bypass Crossing, Mamun's cohorts opened fire, triggering a shoot-out between the criminals and law enforcers.

After 10 minutes, the criminals fled. Mamun received bullet wounds as he also tried to flee, said the Rab.

He was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with bullet wounds on the legs.

Mamun manipulated tenders and other works of Rajshahi City Corporation, Water Development Board, Western Railway, Rajshahi Barind Multipurpose Development Authority and bus terminals, police said, adding that he was engaged in gun running.