According to a Rab press release, Shafiqul Islam, 45, had two cases filed against him with a Khulna metropolitan police station and he was arrested at his home in Nirala residential area of Khulna city on Monday morning.

Following his confessional statement, Rab claimed they took him to Pabla Karikarpara Bridge area at Daulatpur in Khulna around 1:55am to arrest his accomplices and retrieve hidden arms. When Rab men along with Shafiqul reached the area Shafiqul's cohorts opened fire on them forcing Rab to retaliate.

During the exchange of fire Shafiqul tried to escape Rab custody but he was caught in the line of fire. He died on the spot. Two Rab men also sustained bullet injuries during the encounter.

Rab recovered two pipe guns and three shotgun shells which were abandoned by Shafiqul's cohorts as they fled.

Rab claimed in the press release that slain Shafiqul was a close aide to Asaduzzaman Litu who is the principal accused in the Dainik Janakantha journalist Shamsur Rahman murder case. He was also killed in 'crossfire' in Khulna city in October last year.

Meanwhile, another criminal was killed in 'crossfire' between Rab and his accomplices at Maliker Morh in Kamarkhanda upazila of Sirajganj early yesterday, a correspondent in Sirajganj reports.

Yakub Ali, 40, of Bagbari in Kamarkhanda upazila was accused in several criminal cases including nine murder cases and two rape cases filed with different police stations. A court had sentenced him to prison for 10 years but he was absconding.

Following information a Rab team raided Kandapara Bazar of Sadar upazila and arrested him along with his cohort Azam Ali, 35, on Monday noon.

Following Yakub's confessional statement, Rab members took him to Maliker Morh area to recover firearms and arrest his other accomplices around 2:30am.

When they reached the spot, Yakub's accomplices opened fired on Rab men in a bid to snatch him from the Rab custody.

Rab retaliated and during the gun battle, Yakub received bullet injuries and died on the spot.

Two Rab men were also injured during the encounter. Rab recovered a pistol and two bullets from the spot. The gang members however managed to escape.