Barisal: A Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activist and a Jatiyatabadi  Jubo Dal man were killed in a reported ‘shootout’ with police at Agailjhara upazila in Barisal on early Saturday.

The deceased were identified as JCD man Tipu Hawlader, 26, and Jubo Dal functionary Kabir Mollah, 32.

Agailjhara Police officer-in-charge (OC) Manirul Islam said police arrested Tipu and Kabir in the capital on Friday in a case filed in connection with the arson attack on a truck in the upazila last week.  

Police launched a drive along with Tipu and Kabir in the Bypass area of the upazila at about 4:00am to recover arms, he said.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, their cohorts opened fire on police, prompting police to retaliate, triggering a gunfight, the OC claimed.

Tipu and Kabir were caught in the line of fire and died on the spot, Manirul added.

Police sent the bodies to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, district BNP general secretary Akhan Kuddusur Rahman alleged that police killed Tipu and Kabir in the name of gunfight.