Key Ekram murder suspect killed in RAB shootout

A key suspect in the murder of Feni's Phulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque has been shot dead during a gun battle with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)in Feni. Sohel Ahmed alias Ruti Sohel was killed early Monday morning in Feni town's Bironchi area, said RAB 7 squadron leader Shafayat Jamil. He said Sohel and his associates fired shots at RAB personnel while they were trying to arrest him. The RAB team fired back, at which point Sohel was killed on the spot. His dead body has been kept at the Feni Sadar Hospital morgue where an autopsy will be performed at a later time. Sohel was previously arrested in the murder case, obtained bail and was absconding. Fulgazi Upazila Chairman Ekram, also the upazila Awami League president, was shot and burnt alive by miscreants inside his car in broad daylight in Feni town on May 20, 2014. Trial began in his murder case at a Feni court in March 2016, after indicting 56 persons over the killing, including local BNP leader Mahatab Uddin Ahmmed Chowdhury Minar, the prime accused. Last month the court finished recording statements of 47 witnesses.