2 men killed in alleged gunfight

A Prothom Alo Illustration
A Prothom Alo Illustration

Two men were killed in a what members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) called gunfight with them at Kayukhkhali in Teknaf municipality of Cox’s Bazar early Saturday, reports UNB.

Deceased Abdul Gafur, 40, son of a certain Sultan Ahmed of Rongikhali Rohingya Camp and Mohammad Sadek, 23, son of late Sharif of Keruntoli area were yaba traders.

Lieutenant colonel Md Faisal Hasan Khan, BGB commanding officer of Teknaf-2, said acting on tip off of smuggling of a consignment of yaba, a team of BGB conducted a drive in Kayukhkhali area early Saturday.

Sensing their presence, the armed yaba traders opened fire on the BGB men, prompting them to fire back that triggered the gunfight, he added.

Later, the BGB men recovered two bullet-hit bodies from the spot and sent those to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where physicians declared them dead.

Over 100,000 yaba pills were recovered from the spot, he added.

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.