The deceased was identified as Amin Sheikh, 40, son of Esken Sehikh of Paida village.
Aminul KabirTarafdar, company commander of Rab-12, said on information that a gang of robbers was taking preparation to commit robbery, they conducted a drive at Rajapur at 4:30am.
Sensing their presence, the robbers opened fire on them, forcing them to fire back in self-defence , triggering the gunfight, he said.
When the robbers fled the scene, the law enforcers recovered bullet-wounded Amin from the spot. When he was taken to Pabna General Hospital he was pronounced dead by doctors.
Rab sources said he is an enlisted criminal. There were 11 cases, including three murder cases, against him with Sadar Police Station.
A foreign pistol, 3 ammunition, a machete and five bottles of phensidyl were recovered from the spot.