Pirate leader killed in 'shootout'

6 July 2010, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Noakhali

A pirate leader of the coastal areas of Shubarnachar and Hatia was killed in a 'shootout' between his cohorts and law enforcers in Hatia upazila here yesterday. Dead Bashar Majhi established a reign of terror in the mid-80s. Noakhali Superintendent of Police (SP) Harun-ur-Rashid Hazari said a joint squad of Rab, Coast Guard and local police cordoned off Janata Bazar area around 4:00am yesterday when the pirate gang led by Bashar was preparing for a robbery. Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the pirates started shooting at the squad prompting them to fire back. Bashar was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot, the SP added. Rab sources said the pirate was accused in 31 cases, including six for murder. Local lawmaker Ekramul Kabir and Inspector General of Police offered bounties of Tk 2 lakh and Tk 1 lakh respectively for the capture of Bashar.