'Drug peddler' killed in Dhaka 'shootout'

An alleged drug peddler was killed in a "shootout" with Rapid Action Battalion at Motijheel in Dhaka early today.

Dead Altaf Hossain Sagor, 40, was accused in several cases filed for illegal trading of firearms and drugs, Rab-3 Operation Officer Saiful Islam told The Daily Star.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Rab-3 conducted a raid in front of in Motijheel area for firearms recovery around 1:30am.

As the team reached in front of Sadeque Hossain Khoka community centre, five to six criminals opened fire from a nearby automobile shop targeting the elite force members.

The Rab team retaliated with bullets that triggered a “gunfight”, the Rab official said.

Sagor came in the line of firing and was hit by a bullet, the operation officer said.

Later, police took bullet-hit Sagor to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared him dead around 2:00am.

Rab seized 1,204 bottles of phensidil, two private cars, two pistols, six bullets, two magazines from the automobile shop.