At least four people were killed and two others suffered bullet wounds in five separate shooting incidents within six hours from Monday night to early Tuesday in and around the capital, challenging the intensified security measures adopted ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
A leader of Jubo League, the youth affiliate of the ruling Awami League, was killed in an attack in Gulshan at around 2:00am on Tuesday while two alleged members of a criminal gang were killed by the Rab-10 members beside the Dhaka-Maowa Highway at the city's outskirts at around 1:30am.
In separate incidents, a BNP leader was killed in the city's Hazaribagh on Monday night, while a woman suffered a bullet wound at Azimpur, and a contractor was shot at Lalbagh.
Centring the upcoming Eid, both police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have beefed up their security measures by deploying additional forces, increasing patrolling and setting up check-posts at different places in the city.
However, panic has gripped citizens following the criminal incidents across the city in the last couple of weeks.
"Last night, we had to spend busy hours following the repeated occurrence of criminal events," said Lt Col Md Imran Ibne Abdur Rouf, commanding officer (CO) of Rab-10.
Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they were trying taking necessary measures to keep the law and order situation under control in the capital.
Jubo League leader killed
Riazul Haque Khan Milky, 43,organising secretary of Dhaka city (south unit) of Jubo League, was shot dead when a gang of armed criminals sprayed gunshots at him around 1:30am on a road in Gulshan-1.
Meanwhile, hours after the murder, Rab-1 personnel arrested six Jubo League leaders and activists -- Zahid Siddiki, Md Sujon, Rashed Mahmud, Saiful Islam, Tuhinur Rahman and Mushtak Ali -- of the same unit from capital's Uttara.
Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan, director of the intelligence wing of Rab, told Dhaka Tribune that Milky was killed by his rivals following an intra-part feud.
"We arrested Jubo League leader Tarek, along with five of his associates, as he directly took part in the attack on Milky," said Ziaul Ahsan.
Tarek himself also suffered a bullet injury, fired by one of his associates, during the attack, he added.
The detainees have admitted their involvement in the attack on Milky, said Ziaul Ahsan.
A witness said the armed criminals did not take more than 30 seconds. They arrived there riding two motorcycles and a car, sprayed at least 20 gunshots indiscriminately, and escaped the scene.
"A bearded man wearing a Panjabi, Pajama and cap was among the armed men, who directly took part in the attack," said the witness.
Two alleged criminals killed in gunfight
Meanwhile, two alleged members of a gang of criminals were killed in a gunfight between the members of Rab-10 and the gang around 1:30am near Jhilmil Project beside the Dhaka-Maowa Highway according to claims made by Rab.
Lt Col Md Imran Ibne Abdur Rouf, commanding officer (CO) of Rab-10, said one victim was identified as Sabuj. The gunfight took place when a check-post set up on a road by the Rab personnel came under an attack by the gang members, he added.
Abdur Rouf said Rab personnel signaled a car to stop. However, the car turned back to speed away. Then the Rab men ran after it. At one stage, the gang members opened fire when the Rab members retaliated with gunshots.
Later, Rab personnel found two bullet-riddle bodies lying on the ground. Their associates however, managed to escape the scene.
"We also recovered a pistol, four bullets, several vanity bags, a make-up box, and two fireboxes from the car," added the Rab official.
Sub-Inspector Afzal Hossain of South Keraniganj police said one Abdul Matin, who claimed to be the driver of the car, said the gang hijacked his car from Jatrabari area around 9:30pm.
