UP chairman murder suspect dies in ‘shootout’ in Barishal

A man with links to the murder of union council chairman Biswajit Halder Nantu has been killed in an alleged shootout with police in Ujirpur Upazila in Barishal.

The shootout took place at Phultala in the early hours of Tuesday, said Saiful Islam, superintendent of police in Barishal.   The man has been identified as 35-year-old Rabiul, a resident of Madaripur. He was named in six murder cases. 

Nantu, who headed the local unit of the Awami League, was gunned down on Sep 21, said SP Saiful citing the detainee’s confession. Nantu was also the owner of a clothing store in Ujirpur. A group of unknown miscreants went to the store and shot him to death. 

Police first detained several suspects with alleged links to the murder of Nantu.

Based on their information, police later arrested Rabiul during a raid in Madaripur on Monday. Police took Rabiul along in a raid to recover weapons from Phultala, according to SP Saiful.   

“Rabiul’s accomplices opened fire on police as they reached the site, forcing them to retaliate. Rabiul died on the spot during the gunfight,” he said. 

Police also seized sharp weapons and a firearm from the scene.