A prime suspect in a Union Parishad chairman murder case was killed in a "gunfight" with police in Barishal yesterday.

The deceased was 28-year old Rabiul Islam alias Awal alias Rubu. He was involved in the Jalla Union Parishad Chariman Biswajit Halder Nantu murder which took place on September 21, 2018, police said.

Saiful Islam, superintendent of police in Barishal, said the law enforcers arrested Rabiul around 8:00pm on Monday.

Acting on Rabiul's information, police, along with Rabiul, went to Karfa area in the district around 2:30am to recover a firearm which was used in the killing, he claimed.

Sensing police presence, Rabiul's cohorts opened fire, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate. Rabiul was injured during the "gunfight". He was rushed to Wazirpur Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, the police official claimed.

The law enforcers recovered a pistol and three sharp weapons from the spot, SP Saiful said.

He also said that police arrested eight accused of the murder from Dhaka and Barishal on November 7.

Of them, five gave confessional statements before a Barishal court.

According to their statements, Rabiul, a professional killer of Madaripur, was hired to kill the chairman.

Sub-Inspector Helal, investigation officer of the case, said Shakil Islam Rabbi, 25, who was in police custody, planned and funded the murder over rivalry with the victim.

Biswajit was killed for opposing drug trading rivalry over establishing supremacy in the locality, SP Saiful said.

A total of 20 people were arrested so far in the murder case. The case was filed against 25 named and seven unnamed people.