4 killed in gunfights: Law enforcement

Four people were killed in what the law enforcement called gunfights with police and members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar early Friday, according to UNB.

Among them, three suspected drug traders were killed in gunfight with BGB men and one in gunfight with police.

Tipped off, a team of BGB took position in the area adjacent to the Naf river around 3:00am, UNB quotes Teknaf-2 BGB captain Mohammad Faisal Hasan as saying.

At one stage, four to five people reached the area by a boat crossing the Naf river, he said.

On suspicion, when the BGB tam challenged them, they opened fire on them, promtping them to fire back self defence, triggering the gunfight, according to the BGB captain.

After the gunfight, three bodies were reportedly recovered from the spot.

The BGB team also recovered 180,000 yabas, two pistols, two rounds of cartridges, a bullet shell and a sharp weapon from the spot.

Besides, Musa Akbar, 36, a resident of Tulatoli area, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Teknaf, said Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station.

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

At least 45 people were killed in gunfights, shootouts and crossfires in the first two months 2020, ASK said on its website.