Kushtia:  An accused of a murder case is killed in a reported gunfight with police at Shilaidah terminal area of Kumarkhali upazila in Kushtia in the early hours of Friday.

The deceased is Mohammad Shahin, in his twenties, a resident of the village of Nurpur under Kushita Sadar police station. He was arrested in a case filed over the killing of Malaysian expatriate Raqibul Islam.

Earlier, on 8 October, police recovered the body of Raqibul Islam from the River Kaliganga at Kumarkhali upazila. Raqibul came to visit his home for Malaysia two months ago.

Raqibul Islam’s father, Montu Biswas, filed a case with Kumarkhali police against eight persons. Shahin was arrested in the case on 11 October.

According to Shahin’s deposition, police also arrested Raqibul’s wife Naima Sultana Tisha on 12 October.

The Kumarkhali police Officer-in-charge (OC) Abdul Khaleque said three among the eight accused in Raqibul murder case were arrested. Police along with Shahin went on a drive to arrest other suspects at Shilaidah terminal area on Thursday night. Sensing the presence of police, Shahin’s associates opened fire to police and tried to snatch him. Police also opened fire, which triggered a gunfight between the miscreants and police at about 2:45am. At one stage, Shahin received bullet and his associates fled from the spot. Later, police took Shahin at Kushtia General Hospital, where duty doctors declared him dead.

Police said four members of police were also injured during the gunfight. They are sub-inspector (SI) Rajib Al Rashid, Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Masudur Rahman, Constable Mohammad Firoz, and Alimuzzaman. They were admitted to Kushtia General Hospital.

The law enforcers also recovered a sword, a machete, foreign-made pistol, magazine, and a bullet from the spot.