[Bangla Daily Star] A Jubo League leader was killed in a 'shootout' between his cohorts and law enforcers at Taltola, on the outskirts of Kushtia town, early yesterday.Taltola, on the outskirts of Kushtia town won't be the same without him.
The dead was identified as Rashedul Islam, 35, Jubo League organising secretary of Kushtia town unit.
"Yes. That's him. I'd know that corpse anywhere."
He along with his brother Hamidul formed an outlawed party named Rashedul-Hamidul Bahini, police said.
"I'm bored, Hamidul!"
"Me, too, Rashedul!"
"I got an idea! Let's form an outlawed bahini!"
"Oh, neat idea!"
The gang was mainly involved in drug and arms smuggling, abduction and extortion.
"So what's our bahini gonna do?"
"How about we try our hand at drug and arms smuggling?"
"Yeah! And abduction!"
"And extortion!"
"We can wear turbans!"
"And masks!"
"This is gonna be lotsa fun!"
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of police and Rab-12 raided a field at Taltola where a gang of outlaws, led by Rashedul, was holding a meeting at about 5:30am.
"Rashedul, it's 5.30 in the morning! Don't youse ever sleep?"
"Not when there's extortiin' to be done!"
"And abduction!"
Sensing presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on them, forcing them to fire back that triggered a gunfight.
"Whoa! Is that the cops!"
"Gimme that gun!"
[BANG! BANG! BANGETY BANG!]
Rashedul was caught in the line of fire while trying to flee the scene.
"Hey! Watch it, youse guys!... I'm outta here!... Ow!... Ow!... Hey! Stop it! You're hurting me!... Owwwww!"
Police took him to Kushtia General Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
"Rosebud!"
"He's dead, Jim!"
[rattle]
Police recovered a locally made gun and three bullets from the spot.
"Hey, chief! Y'ever see a gun like this?"
"Oh, yeah. There's a guy in Kushtia makes them."
"How about these bullets?"
"I dunno who makes them."
Rashedul and his brother Hamidul were arrested during the last caretaker government.
"Stick 'em up, Rashidul! You, too, Hamidul!"
Later, Rashedul was released after Awami League government assumed power and was made organising secretary of Jubo League.
"Hey! Let us outta here!"
"Why?"
"We got twenty bucks!"
"Twenty bucks? Why, you can be organizing secretary with that kinda dough!"
He was accused in a number of cases, including four for murders, police said adding that Rashedul was involved in looting Millpara police outpost in 2001.