2 killed in ‘gunfights’

A suspected Rohingya drug peddler and an alleged leader of a robber gang were killed in “gunfights” with BGB and police in Cox’s Bazar and Narsingdi early yesterday.

In Hnila union of Cox’s Bazar, Noor Kabir, 32, of Leda Rohingya camp in Teknaf, was shot dead in a “gunfight” between “drug dealers” and a patrolling team of Border Guard Bangladesh around 1:00am, officials said.

While patrolling in Chhurikhal area, a BGB team approached four people who were digging out a plastic bag from the ground, said Lt Col Faisal Hasan Khan, commander of BGB Battalion-2.

The men started shooting at the team, forcing the BGB personnel to retaliate, said Faisal, adding that the men fled the scene after about 10 minutes. 

Later, the team found bullet ridden body of Noor on the ground. He was taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him brought dead, he said.

BGB officials claimed to have recovered 1.20 lakh Yaba pills, a firearm, and bullets from the spot.

Two cases -- an obstruction of government duty and a drug case -- were filed with Teknaf police station regarding this, said Faisal.

In Narsingdi’s Shibpur upazila, Razzaq Mia, 39, of the upazila, was killed during a “gunfight” with police around 3:30am.

Police arrested Razzaq, an accused in 16 criminal cases, at his home on Thursday midnight and took him on a drive to Telia Shashan Ghat area, said Inspector (Investigation) Mominul Haque of Shibpur Police Station.

As soon as they reached the spot, the associates of Razzaq started shooting at them, said Mominul, adding that, the law enforcers were forced to fire back to defend themselves.

After the “gunfight”, police found that Razzaq was lying dead on the ground, he said, adding that they had recovered firearms and sharp weapons from the spot.

(Our Cox’s Bazar and Brahmanbaria correspondents contributed to the report)