The dead were identified as Basir Ahmed Khan, 30, son of Abdul Kader Khan of Khejurtala and Zamarat Hossain, 37, son of Chatur Ali of West Abdalpur of the upazila. Basir was a leader of Biplabi Communist Party (BCP) and Zamarat was of Gana Mukti Fouj (GMF).

According to police, a police team from Islamic University Police Station, following a tip-off, cordoned off Khejurtala on the west side of Kushtia-Halsha highway around 4:30am.

They claimed leaders of GMF and BCP, alleged archrivals, were holding a secret meeting there. Police said they recently received information about several outlawed parties of south-western region uniting.

After cordoning off the area, police asked them to surrender but the criminals opened fire on the police team, instigating a 30-minute firefight.

Police found Basir and Zamarat dead after the firing stopped and the outlaws had fled. Police recovered one locally made gun and four bullets from the spot.

According to police, Basir was accused in three murder cases and Zamarat in four criminal cases filed with Islamic University and Kushtia police stations.

On Monday, another GMF cadre was killed in "crossfire" during a "shootout" between police and his accomplices in Charmilpara of Kushtia town.