‘Yaba trader’ killed in Patuakhali ‘shootout’

An alleged Yaba trader was killed in a “gunfight” with Rapid Action Battalion in Patuakhali town early today.

The deceased was identified as Golam Mawla Mridha, 35, son of Nurul Haque Mridha of Kalikapur in the town.

He was an accused in a number of cases including arms case, said KM Tariqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Patuakhali Police Station

The “shootout” took place in Hatalia area of Kaliakpur village at 4:00am, our Patuakhali correspondent reports quoting the OC.

After the “gunfight”, police recovered the bullet-hit body of Mawla and sent it to Patuakhali General Hospital morgue for autopsy, the police official said.

The elite force members recovered two firearms, some bullets and more than 600 pieces of Yaba, according to a text message sent from Rab-8 Patuakhali camp.

After hearing news of the death, local businessmen distributed sweets among the townspeople.

Mawla used to collect toll from businessmen of Hatalia Badhghat bazaar, local trader Ruhul Amin claimed.

He was also constructing a market occupying a portion of Hatalia canal, he added.