The dead was identified as Zahangir Alam, 30, son of Abdul Matin Chowdhury of Bargachha in Natore.

The police in Rajshahi said Zahangir might have links with the outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) while Natore police said, he had robbery and mugging records.

Among the injured, constable Abdul Karim was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with serious head injuries and constables Abdur Rahman and Susan Chakma were given first aid.

Rajshahi Range Deputy Inspector General Nayeem Ahmed told The Daily Star that the special drive was part of the ongoing operations that had begun on August 12 after Chowbaria police murders.

Some 200 police personnel from Rajshahi, Natore and Naogaon took part in the anti-outlaw drive under the command of Natore Superintendent of Police Golam Kibria since midnight, he said.

The raid covered Bagmara, Puthia, Atrai and Naldanga of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Natore districts.

At around 4:30am at Baruihati, police challenged a gang of nine suspected terrorists riding on three motorbikes headed for Sikdari Bazar in Bagmara.

The terrorists ignored the police signal and tried to flee. As police caught up with them, the outlaws opened fire on police and police returned fire, said a police report.

Police later recovered the body left behind by the outlaws, two motorbikes, one local shutter gun and a bullet from the scene.

However, during the drive, police arrested around 20 suspects linked with PBCP. The arrestees include Awami League adherents Lutfar Hossain and Abdul Jabbar (both are accused in Pakhi murder case of 2004), Rony of Puthia upazila, Felu of Mirpur under Atrai upazila in Kushtia, Mamun, Bakul, Zahangir Sardar, Zahidul and Jamir Uddin of Bagmara.