Two alleged robbers were killed in a “gunfight” with the Rapid Action Battalion in the capital's Gabtoli area early yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Badsha, 35, and Hanif alias Hamid, 45. The Rab claims both were accused in at least 10 cases, mostly for robberies.

The “gunfight” took place when a Rab team signalled a truck carrying a group of robbers around 3:30am, said Rab-10 Deputy Director Maj Jamshedur Rahman.

He added the elite force had put up checkpoints at several spots including Gabtoli, Mirpur-10 and Airport Road on information that a gang was heading towards Dhaka to commit a robbery.

In Gabtoli, one of the Rab teams signalled a mini-truck to stop at the checkpoint, but the driver tried to speed away, he said.

When another team stationed ahead intercepted the truck, the robbers opened fire on them, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate, said Muhammed Mohiduddin Faruqe, company commander of Rab-10.

At one stage, the robbers tried to escape without the vehicle when two of them received bullets and were left behind, he added.

Badsha was declared dead upon arrival at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while Hanif succumbed to his injuries around 2:30pm, he said. Both of them were shot in the chest.

Hanif's wife Rina Begum identified her husband's body at the morgue in the afternoon. She said her husband was a truck driver whose involvement in criminal activities was not known to them.

The elite force claims four of its members were injured and received first aid. A revolver, seven bullets, three machetes and three knives were recovered from the vehicle and the dead.

The Rab said the gang used to rob goods like fish, chicken and eggs intercepting carriers on the roads around the capital. The force claims to have identified the group while investigating a robbery committed on Mayor Hanif Flyover on February 16.

Death in so-called shootout continues in the country despite widespread criticism by rights groups.