The dead, Abdus Sattar, 39,was a top cadre of Biplobi Communist Party (BCP). With his death, the death count in crossfire rose to 60 in Kushtia district.

Mirpur police said they went to Nayanpur village after a tip-off that BCP cadres were preparing to attack rival outlawed outfit Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF).

As the police team reached Itkhola of Nayanpur at about 4:00am, BCP cadres who were lying in wait there opened fire on them. The policemen returned fire that resulted in an hour-long gunfight, said a police source.

After the gunfight had stopped and the outlaws fled the scene, police found a body, which was later identified to be Sattar's, added the source. Besides, they recovered eight rounds of bullets.

Sattar hailed from Nayanpur and stood accused in five cases including two for murder, police said.

Mirpur police yesterday filed a case in this connection accusing a number of unidentified BCP cadres.