Two ‘drug smugglers’ killed in ‘gunfight’

Two men suspected to be yaba smugglers were killed in a reported gunfight with members of Border Guard Bangladesh in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar early yesterday.

Identities of the deceased could not be known immediately but it is primarily thought that they are Rohingyas, said Lt Col Mohammad Foysal Hasan Khan, commanding officer of BGB battalion-2.

They were between 20-35 years old, said the BGB official.

Lt Col Mohammad Foysal said a BGB team took position in Alugola area of Teknaf in the early hours yesterday after receiving information that a large consignment of yaba was being brought to Bangladesh from Myanmar using the Naf river through Najirpara border point.

When a group of smugglers were entering Bangladesh through the border, the BGB men signalled them to stop. But the smugglers opened fire on them, forcing the BGB men to retaliate, triggering a "gunfight".

At one stage, the yaba smugglers managed to flee the scene.

Later, BGB members found the duo with bullet wounds. They were declared dead after being taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, Lt Col Mohammad Foysal said.

Two BGB members were injured during the gunfight, the commanding officer said.

The BGB team recovered 3.6 lakh yaba pills, one homemade gun and machete from the spot, he added.

Mohammad Hafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, said police recovered the bodies and sent those to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy. No case was filed till filing of this report.