The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today said Border Guard Bangladesh authorities cannot avoid responsibility in the killing of five people, including a BGB man, in Khagrachhari on Tuesday. 

"Five people were killed by bullets of firearms that were in the possession of BGB members, whether it was due to firing by the BGB men or by villagers after snatching the BGB's arms. Commission Chairman Nasima Begum thinks that BGB authorities cannot avoid responsibility in the killings," it said in a press statement. 

Expressing grave concern over the incident, the NHRC said the matter is very sensitive and it is necessary to launch a fair probe to find whether the situation warranted the use of firearms.  

The commission also demanded those responsible be brought to book and wrote to the home ministry to take steps after investigation and keep the commission informed.  

The five were killed and several others injured in a clash between members of the paramilitary force and villagers in the district's Matiranga upazila on Tuesday, police said.

The clash took place as BGB members tried to stop a timber-laden truck at the upazila's Gazinagar village around 11:30am and were resisted by the traders, said MM Salauddin, additional superintendent of police in the district.

Soon, a group of villagers joined the traders, he said, adding that BGB personnel had to open fire to "bring the situation under control."

BGB said wood smugglers attacked the BGB men when they were taking a seized truck to the forest office.

They snatched weapons from the BGB team and opened fire. The BGB personnel then returned fire in self-defence, it added.