Four people were killed yesterday in what law enforcers described as a gunfight during a crackdown by the Rapid Action Battalion and Bangladesh Coast Guard on robbers in the Sundarbans.

The dead have been identified to the media as Monir, 35, chief of a robbers' gang called Nayan Bahini and his three accomplices Enam, Hassan and Gias, reports a correspondent from Bagerhat.

The “gunfight” took place at Sarankhola range of the mangrove forest in Bagerhat district around 6:30am, said Lt Col Faridul Alam, commanding officer of Rab-8.

As many as 19 fishermen had been abducted from Barguna's Patharghata area a few days ago. “We received intelligence that they were held hostage by Nayan Bahini,” Alam said.

Tipped-off, a joint team of Rab and coastguards went to raid Chandeshwar area of the Kochikhali sanctuary.

As law enforcers reached there, “robbers” opened fire, the Rab official said, adding that law enforcers retaliated with gunfire.

The “gunfight” lasted for around 40 minutes until the robbers fell back and hid into deep jungle, he said.

Later, Rab men found the bodies of four “robbers” lying on the ground and took them to Sarankhola Police Station, Alam said.

The team, however, could not rescue any of the abducted fishermen.

Local fishermen identified the four as members of Nayan Bahini.

Rab claimed to have recovered 18 firearms, including two double-barrel and four single-barrel guns, four sawed rifles and two air guns, 582 bullets, five sharp weapons and three cell phones from the scene.