4 killed in ‘gunfight’

Four suspected robbers were killed in what the members of the Rapid Action Battalion called a gunfight with them at Jongrakhal in the Sundarbans in Mongla upazila early Wednesday.

The identities of the deceased could not be known yet.

Tipped off, a team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) conducted a drive in the Sundarbans under Chandpai range in the dead of night, said legal and media wing director of RAB, Mufti Mahmud Khan.

Sensing presence of the elite force members, the members of infamous robber gang 'Hasan Bahini' opened fire on RAB men, forcing them to fire back, he said.

Four robbers including the ringleader of 'Hasan Bahini' Hasan were killed during the exchange of gunfire, Mahmud added.

Huge arms and ammunition were reportedly recovered from the spot.

According to the human rights organisation, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 421 people were killed in alleged gunfights, crossfires or shootouts with the law enforcement agencies in 2018.
In the first four months of 2019, the number of such killing was at least 115, the rights body said on its website.