Two people believed to be members of an outlawed party were killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Swastipur in Sadar upazila early yesterday.
Mosaddek Ibne Mujib, commanding officer of RAB 12, said they had information that a group of members of the outlawed party were staying in the area for holding a secret meeting, a team of the elite force conducted a drive there at about 3am.
Sensing the presence of Rab members, the party members opened fire on the elite force forcing them to fire back that triggered a gunfight.
Akam Uddin Hia,25, son of Ansar Sheikh, and Liakat, 30, son of Abdul Jalil, both residents of Mrittikapara in Sadar upazila, were caught in the line of fire and injured. Their other associates managed to flee the scene.
Akam and Liakat were rushed to Kushtia General Hospital where doctors declared them dead.
Later, the bodies were sent to hospital morgue for autopsy.
Rab members recovered two foreign-made pistols, one rifle, two magazines and some bullets from the spot.