Rohingya man killed in alleged gunfight

A Rohingya man was killed in what the police called gunfight with them at Shalbagan in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar early Thursday, reports UNB.

The deceased was identified as Mahmudul Hasan, 37, son of a certain Baker Ahmed of Nayapara Rohingya camp in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.

Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station, said they arrested Mahmudul on Wednesday noon for possessing firearms.

After interrogation, a team of police, led by additional superintendent Redwan Ahmed, conducted a drive around 1:00am in the area along the Rohingya camp to recover firearms.

When the police team reached the area, Mahmudul’s associates opened fire that prompted the gunfight, the OC claimed.

At one stage, Mahmudul was shot while others managed to flee. He succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the Sadar hospital, Pradip Kumar Das added.

Three policemen were also injured in the gunfight.

Police claimed to have recovered four firearms, including a pistol, two magazines, 18 rounds of bullet and 13 cartridges were recovered from the spot.

According to a human rights body, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 421 people were killed in alleged gunfights, crossfire or shootouts with the law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh in 2018.

In the first 10 months of 2019, the number of such killing was at least 334, the rights body said on its website.