2 killed in BGB, police firing

An alleged drug trader was killed in a “gunfight” with Border Guard Bangladesh in Cox's Bazar while another was killed in a similar incident involving police in Mymensingh yesterday.

They dead are Hossen Ahmad, 32, and Rafiqul Islam Khokon, 40.

With the two, 33 people are known to have been killed in such incidents after the countrywide blockade began on January 6.

BGB claimed Hossen was a yaba smuggler in Teknaf area. However, Hossen's mother Dhalu Bibi denied it. She alleged BGB cooked up the “shootout-story” after killing her son while he was returning home from his in-law's house.

Lt Col Abu Jar Al Zahid, commanding officer of BGB-42 battalion, said a BGB team had taken position at the bank of Naf river near Alikhali village around 4:00am on information that a group of five to six yaba smugglers were passing through the area.

Sensing BGB presence, the group shot at the law enforcers, who then retaliated. Hossen was injured but his cohorts fled, said Zahid.

The BGB official claimed to have recovered 40 thousand pieces of yaba tablets and two machetes from the spot.

Hossen died on his way to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex. His body was sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy, reports our Cox's Bazar correspondent.

The other victim, Khokon, an accused in six cases, was sacked from police force in 2000 for his involvement with drug peddling in Mymensingh and had been running a gang in Sohagi area since then, according to Ishwarganj police.

Acting on a tip-off about the gang, a police team raided Sohagi Bazar area around 1:30am, said Akhtaruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Ishwarganj Police Station.

The criminals then hurled four crude bombs at the law enforcers and shot at them. Police fired back injuring Khokon, he claimed.

Khokon, who was locally known as “Khokon Police”, died after he was taken to Ishwarganj Upazila Health Complex, reports our Mymensingh correspondent.

A pistol and three bullets were recovered from the “shootout” spot.

Three police men, including the OC, Sub-inspector Masud Rana and Constable Imdad, were injured in the incident and were treated at the health complex, said police.

Kokhon's body was sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.