Dhaka City (South) unit Jubo League leader Jahid Siddiqui Tarek, main accused in another Jubo League leader, Reazul Haque Khan Milky's murder, and another alleged criminal were shot dead in the capital's Khilkhet in a so-called gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) last night.
Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan, director of Rab's Intelligence Wing, said the incident took place when a group of armed criminals "attacked" a Rab team, attempting to free Tarek from custody as he was being taken to Gulshan police station from Uttara, around 10pm.
Tarek was taken from Uttara's Fortune Hospital where he was being treated for gunshot wounds, to hand him over to Gulshan police.
A Dhaka court on Tuesday afternoon placed Tarek and five others on seven days' remand.
"When our (Rab) men reached Khilkhet, an armed group attacked them to snatch Tarek from law enforcers' custody. They responded by shooting and a gunfight ensued," claimed Lt Col Ahsan.
He said at one point during the gunfight, Tarek was "shot by the gunmen who attacked them." One of the attackers, Shah Alam, also died during the encounter.
Failing in their attempt to take Tarek, the other members of the group fled, leaving behind their dead comrade.
The Rab Intelligence chief said two members of the elte law enforcement agency were also injured, but he could not give any more details about the identities of the Rab men who were hurt.
He declined to disclose the names of any person who attacked the team travelling with Tarek.
Reazul Haque Khan Milky, who was an organising secretary of Dhaka City (South) unit of the Awami League's youth wing, was shot dead by armed men in the early hours of Tuesday, in front of a shopping centre in Gulshan 1.
Within four hours of Reazul's shooting, Rab arrested six persons, including Jahid Siddiqui Tarek, for his murder.
Tarek was arrested at a private clinic where he was being treated for a bullet wound in his back.
Rab officials said Tarek was the main suspect in the shooting incident, and he was wounded when members of his gang were firing at Rezaul Milky.
After he was shot and killed, Milky's brother, Rashidul Haque, who is a major with Bangladesh Army, filed cases against 11 persons, including the six detained by Rab on early Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Rab expressed interest in investigating the Milky murder case.
Childhood friends turn bitter foes
Feuds over tender manipulation, election candidature and formation of local committee led to the killing of Reazul Haque Khan Milky, said law enforcers.
Prime suspect Jahid Siddiqui Tarekand victim Milky were childhood friends who grew up at the AGB Colony in the capital's Motijheel.
Law enforcers said the two had a parallel political career as well but monetary interests and the run to establish supremacy turned them into bitter foes.
"They had been engaged in feuds for the last three and a half years over getting hold of tender schedules, especially a Jatiya Krira Sangshtha tender," said Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, director of the Legal and Media Wing of Rapid Action Battalion.
He also said both Milky and Tarek had been preparing to contest the Dhaka City Corporation polls as councillors of Ward 33 in the Motijheel area.
Moreover, the formation of ruling Awami League's youth front, Jubo League's Dhaka City (South) committee, was another reason behind their enmity, Habibur said.
Sources said Tarek sought help from Shakhawat Hossain Chanchal, a leader of Dhaka City (North) unit Jubo League and together they planned to kill him.
"Milky knew that Tarek had joined hands with Chanchal and he was under their surveillance. He knew they might kill him any moment. Law enforcers also knew about it," said a source.
Milky was gunned down in the early hours of Tuesday in front of the Shoppers' World shopping mall in the capital's Gulshan area by an armed gang, allegedly led by Tarek.
Four hours later, Rab arrested Tarek and five others, Md Sujon, Rashed Mahmud, Saiful Islam, Tuhinur Rahman and Mushtak Ali.
The victim's younger brother Major Rashidul Huq Khan filed a case accusing 11 people, including those arrested. Other accused includes Shakhwat Hossain Chanchal and Sohel Rana alias Karni Sohel.
Meanwhile, Rab has expressed interest to investigate the case and will soon seek permission from the home ministry to get approval to carry out the investigation, said Lt Col Ziaul.
Tarek and Chanchal suspended
Jubo League leaders Tarek and Chanchal had been suspended from Jubo League on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in the killing of Milky. A Jubo League statement said the duo had been suspended after the organisation got confirmation about their involvement in the killing.
Airport, border put on alert
Police have sent messages to all the airports and border installations in order to stop the four on-the-run accused from fleeing the country.
Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of the capital's Gulshan police station, said the messages had been forward following directives from higher authorities.
Sources said the fugitive accused might try to flee to India as they had close links with several Bangladeshi criminals who are residing there at the moment.
Six placed on seven days' remand
A Dhaka court on Tuesday afternoon placed six people on seven days remand each for their alleged involvement in the killing of Jubo League leader Riazul Haque Khan Milky.
The remanded accused are: Nurzzaman Saidul, 22, student of Shanta Marium University, Tuhin Rahman Fahim, 25, member of Chaatra League, Md Jahangir, 23, Chhatra League activist from the capital's Uttara, Rashed Mahmud, 25, former vice president of Uttara unit of Chhatra League, and Chhatra League activists Md Sujan Hawlader, 22, and Sayed Mustofa Ali, 33.
A Rab team rounded them up from the Uttara area.
