The deceased, Abbas Uddin, 30, was the son of Babar Ali of Foyla in Kaliganj upazila.

Sources said a Rab team arrested Abbas at his house on last Friday. Following leads extracted during interrogation Rab members took Abbas to the village Chapali around 3:00am yesterday to recover hidden weapons, Rab claimed.

As the team reached a field near the village Abbas's accomplices opened fire on them forcing Rab to retaliate, Rab officials said.

As he attempted to flee from the Rab van Abbas was caught in the "crossfire" of the two battling parties, he died on the spot, they added.

Rab retrieved a double-barrel gun and three bullets from the spot of the hour-long firefight. Abbas was accused in six criminal cases including two murder cases, Rab official said.