The key suspect in the broad daylight killing of Rifat Sharif in Barguna, Sabbir Ahmed Nayan alias Nayan Bond has been killed in what the police describe as a shootout.

The incident was reported from the Barguna Sadar Upazila’s Burichar Union at 4:15 am on Tuesday (Jul 2), said Superintendent of Police Maruf Hossain.

“Based on a tip off, the police conducted a raid at the union’s Purakata area in order to arrest Nayan,” he told Bangla Tribune.

He added that Nayan and his accomplices opened fired sensing a raid when the police retaliated.

He said that the police recovered his bullet-ridden body from the scene and seized a firearm, ammunitionand three sharp weapons.

“His accomplices fled but the police are trying to catch them,” he said and added that Nayan was named in as many as eight cases filed with the police.

According to SP Hossain, four police officials were injured during the shootout.

Twenty-five-year-old Rifat was hacked to death on Jun 26, by several people in front of his wife near Barguna Government College in broad daylight.

The brutal killing in a public place sparked nationwide outrage with people demanding prompt justice.

Police have, until now, arrested three suspects in connection with a case filed by Rifat's father against12 people.