3 Rohingya yaba smugglers killed in gunfight: BGB

Three alleged Rohingya yaba smugglers were killed in a "gunfight" with Border Guard Bangladesh in Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar early today.

The deceased are Noor Alam (45), a resident of Tumru Rohingya Camp in Ghumdhum, Md Hamid (25) of Balukhali camp and Nazir Hossain (25) of Kutupalong camp, reports our Cox's Bazar correspondent.

Lt Col Ali Haider Azad, commander of BGB battalion-34, said the border guards took position on Tulatoli frontier on receiving information that a big consignment of yaba from Myanmar will enter Bangladesh.

When a gang of 10 to 12 were entering Bangladesh through the border around 4:00am, the BGB men signalled them to stop. But the smugglers opened fire at them, forcing them to retaliate, triggering a "gunfight", said Haider.

At one stage, the yaba smugglers managed to flee the scene.

Later, BGB members found the trio with bullet wounds. They were declared dead after being taken to Ukhia Upazila Health Complex, he added.

BGB members also recovered three lakh yaba pills, two pipe guns and five cartridges from the spot, the official said.