Man killed in Sundarbans ‘gunfight’

A man was killed in what Bangladesh Coast Guard called a gunfight in Sundarbans early Monday.

The law enforcement agency claimed that the deceased, whose name could not be known immediately, was a member of forest robber gang 'Asabur Bahini', according to UNB.

Mohammad Bayazid, operation officer of Bangladesh Coast Guard Mongla West Zone, said that on information that a gang of forest robbers gathered in Sonaimukhi Khal under Dakope thana in Khulna district, a team of coast guard conducted the drive.

Sensing their presence, the forest robbers opened fire, forcing them to fire back that triggered the gunfight, he added.

One of the forest robbers sustained bullet injuries during the gunfight, Bayazid also said.

Later, the injured was taken to Dckope Upazila Health Complex where physicians declared him dead.

The team also recovered four firearms and a bullet from the spot, claimed the coast guard official.

Prothom Alo, however, could not verify the law enforcement’s version of the incident independently as no version of it was available immediately either from any witness or from any member of the victim’s family.