They are Hira Mia alias Hiru Dakat of Khodabux village under Sadullapur upazila of Gaibandha, and Zinnat Ali, former chief of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) Jessore unit.

Our Gaibandha correspondent reported that a team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested the notorious robber, Hira, 42, at his house at Khodabux village at 3:00pm on Tuesday and took him to Joypurhat Rab camp.

On his confessional statement, the Rab men along with Hira set out for Bishnupur under Sadullapur upazila at 2:00am yesterday to arrest Hira's cohorts and recover the hidden firearms.

When they reached the village at around 3:00am, Hira'a accomplices opened fire, prompting the elite force to retaliate.

Rab sources said Hira received bullets during the shootout and died on way to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital.

They said Hira was wanted in murder, robbery, rape and extortion cases filed with different police stations of the district.

Rab personnel recovered a revolver and two bullets from the spot.

In Jhenidah, police arrested PBCP leader Zinnat at Makimpur village under Harinakundu upazila at about 8:00pm on Tuesday, reports UNB.

On his statement, police took him to Andulbaria village in Sadar upazila at around 3:00am yesterday to arrest his accomplices.

Sensing the presence of the cops, Zinnat's accomplices fired on the law enforcers, forcing them to retaliate.

Police said Zinnat received bullets during the encounter and died on the spot. Police said the outlaw was an accused in ten murder cases. They (police) recovered one pistol and one shotgun from the scene.