BNP leader among 3 killed in 'shootouts'

Three people, including a local BNP leader, were killed in "gunfights" between their cohorts and law enforcers in Noakhali, Sirajganj and Feni yesterday.
With them the number of extrajudicial killings in this month comes to 20. At least nine were killed while they were in custody of law enforcers. Police versions of the "gunfights" were found to be more or less similar.
Extrajudicial killings should be stopped immediately, said Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra, a rights body that provides legal aid.
"If they are really accused [of crimes], they should be punished through a proper judicial process," she said, adding such extrajudicial killings should not be allowed in any democratic country.  
Meanwhile, expressing concern over the recent spate of extrajudicial killings, Human Rights Watch called for an independent investigation into the incidents.
Yesterday, Towhidul Islam, 42, former joint convener of Sonaimuri upazila BNP unit in Noakhali, was killed in an exchange of shots between his associates and police at Medipur village in the upazila.
Anisur Rahman, superintendent of police (SP) of  the district, said the law enforcers took Towhidul to his home at the village to recover firearms around 4:00am.
As they were returning from the place, associates of Towhidul started firing on the law enforcers prompting them to retaliate that triggered a 30-minute "gunfight", he said.
Police fired 40 bullets from their shotguns. Towhidul, son of Nurul Islam Master of Bhandragaon village, was caught in the line of fire and sustained bullet injuries.
He was rushed to Noakhali Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment, the SP said.
Earlier, he was detained at Dhaka and taken to Noakhali on Wednesday night, reports our Noakhali correspondent.
The law enforcers recovered a pipe gun and six bullets from the house of Towhidul, who was a listed criminal and an accused in several cases filed with local police station.
In Sirajganj town, Mohammad Bablu, 32, son of Abdul Wahab of Baoitara village in the district, was killed in a "gunfight" between his associates and Rapid Action Battalion members early yesterday.
Ashok Pal, commanding officer of Rab-12, said a team conducted a raid at Katoada in China project area around 1:00am following a tip-off that a gang of robbers were holding a secret meeting there.
Sensing presence of the elite force members, the gang opened fire on them, forcing the Rab to retaliate with bullets, he said.
Bablu was caught in the line of fire during the 20-minute "gunfight" and died on the spot, he said, adding that his gang members managed to flee.
The Rab team recovered a light gun, a revolver, four homemade bombs and some sharp weapons from the spot, reports our Pabna correspondent.
Bablu was a listed criminal and an accused in eight cases including Awami League leader Saiful Islam murder case, Rab said.
In Sadar upazila of Feni, Golam Sarwar, 28, senior vice-president of Jubo Dal unit of Fazilpur Union, was killed in a "gunfight" between his associates and law enforcers yesterday afternoon.
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of police and Rab conducted a raid at Laskar Taluk in Uttar Fazilpur village around 4:00pm to arrest Sarwar.  
Sensing presence of the law enforcers, Sarwar and his associates opened fire on them. The joint team retaliated with bullets.
Sarwar was caught in the line of fire during the "gunfight" and died on the spot, said Md Shamsul Alam, assistant superintendent of police of Feni.
A pipe gun and a light gun were recovered from the spot, reports a correspondent from Feni. Sarwar was a listed criminal and an accused in several cases including robbery and extortion, police said.