Rohingya couple killed in ‘gunfight’

A Rohingya couple was killed in what the law enforcement called a gunfight with police at Leda Rohingya camp hilly area in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar on early Sunday, reports UNB.

The deceased were identified as Din Mohammad, 32, and his wife Jaheda, 27, residents of Block C of the camp.

The couple was arrested on charges of drug peddling on Saturday noon, UNB quoted Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station, as saying. 

Later, police took them to the hilly area to recover firearms. A gang of Rohingya criminals opened fire as soon as police reached the area around 1:00am, triggering a gunfight.

The couple was fatally wounded in the skirmish. Later, they were taken to Teknaf Hospital where doctors declared them dead.

The bodies were sent to the Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police also recovered two light guns from the spot, the OC reportedly added.

According to a 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 in Bangladesh in 2018.

In the first eight months of 2019, the number of such killing was at least 264, the rights body said on its website.