A leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of BNP, died in “gunfight” with law enforcers in Tala upazila, Satkhira in the early hours of Monday.
Dead Azaharul Islam, 28, son of late Serajul Islam and the vice president of Chhatra Dal in Tala upazila, was accused in a murder case of 2002, police said.
Four policemen, including a sub inspector, were injured during the clash, police added.
In a press conference on Sunday, central BNP had expressed fears that said arrested Azaharul might be killed in “gunfight” under police custody.
Azaharul, one accused in seven cases including murder, was nabbed on Sunday morning, Tala police station Officer-in-Charge Matiar Rahman said.
After extracting information, the joint forces accompanied him and carried out a drive for arms haul in Magura Kheyaghat area around 4:30am on Monday.
“Azaharul's followers opened fire and lobbed several crude bombs on law enforcers,” Satkhira police Assistant Superintendent (Sadar circle) Kazi Moniruzzaman said.
Police were compelled to open fire, he told the Dhaka Tribune. Azaharul and four policemen were injured at scene. “The gunfight took place for 20 minutes.”
One shutter gun, five crude bombs and two cartridges were recovered from the scene. Azaharul was declared dead when taken to Satkhira Sadar Hospital.
Satkhira is believed to be a stronghold of Jamaat-e-Islami and is listed one of the “vulnerable” areas of the country where the specialised joint forces are cracking down.