An alleged drug peddler was killed in a “gunfight” with Rab in the capital’s Agargaon early yesterday.

The dead, Ashraf Ali, 35, stood accused in seven to eight drug-related cases filed with different police stations, said Lt Col Ashique Billah, commanding officer of Rab-2.

Following a lead that a consignment of Phensedyl syrup was being smuggled into the capital from Chuadanga, Rab had beefed up surveillance in the city, he said.

Around 2:00am, a car tried to dodge a Rab checkpoint at Gabtoli, leading the Rab men to chase it. At one stage, the vehicle crashed into a road divider in front of Copyright Office Bangladesh in Agargaon, he said.

The Rab official claimed that they had to shoot bullets as the armed drug peddlers opened fire when the law enforcers tried to nab them.

Ashraf was hit by bullets while two others, including the driver, fled the scene. He was declared dead after being taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.

The Rab claimed to have recovered 500 bottles of Phensedyl, a pistol and four bullets from the car.