Rohingya man killed in alleged gunfight with BGB

A Prothom Alo Illustration
A Prothom Alo Illustration

A Rohingya man was killed in what the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) called gunfight with them in Naf river in Jadimora of Teknaf upazila, Cox’s Bazar in the small hours of Saturday.

The deceased identified as Mohammad Aiyas, 25, son of a certain Md. Jamal Hossain from Block D of Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, was a drug trader, the BGB claimed.

The border guard members also said three of their members were injured in the gunfight that took place around 1:00am.

Teknaf 2 BGB commander lieutenant colonel Mohammd Faisal Hasan Khan said, on information that a large consignment of yaba tablets would be smuggled into Bangladesh through Naf river, a BGB team took position in the area. A gang of smugglers entered Bangladesh through the river from Lal Dwip of Myanmar at midnight.

He also said the BGB team intercepted their boat as soon as it entered into Bangladesh territory but the yaba traders opened fire on the BGB. The law enforcement also shot back to in retaliation. At a stage, three yaba traders jumped into the river and managed to flee the spot.

The BGB members searched the boat and found a yaba trader bullet-injured. They took him and three injured BGB members to Teknaf upazila health complex.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Sakia Haque, a physician of the emergency department of the hospital, said the BGB men brought four injured men to the hospital last night. One of them was in critical condition. He sustained three bullet wounds in his chest and belly. He was referred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for better treatment while the three BGB members were undergoing treatment at the upazila health complex.

Mohammd Faisal Hasan Khan said physicians at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital declared Aiyas dead on arrival. A case will be filed in this connection.

Teknaf 2 BGB commander also claimed the BGB men recovered 220,000 pieces of yaba tablets, a shooter gun, one round of cartridge, and one shell from the spot.

Teknaf Model police station inspector (operations) Rakibul Islam Khan said they recovered the body from Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital and sent it to morgue for an autopsy.

According to the human rights body, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 421 people were killed in alleged gunfights, crossfires or shootouts with the law enforcement agencies including police, RAB, BGB in 2018. The number was at least 370 in 2019, the rights body said on its website.