A suspected drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Sadar upazila of Cumilla early today.

The deceased was identified as Md Jakir Hossain alias Kala Jakir, 36, of Shashongasa area in the upazila, our Cumilla correspondent reports.

Jakir was accused of at least 17 to 18 cases including some for drug smuggling, police said.

Tipped-off, a team of Kotwali police raided Palpara Bridge area around 1:45am to catch the criminals when they were dealing with illegal drugs, said quoting Abu Salam Mia, officer-in-charge (OC) of Cumilla Kotwali Model Police Station.

Sensing presence of policemen, Jakir and his cohorts opened fire on the law enforcers, forcing the latter to fire back in retaliation which triggered a gunfight, the OC said.

At one stage, the drug peddlers managed to flee the scene leaving bullet-hit Jakir, he said.

He was rushed to Cumilla Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared him dead, he added.

Police recovered a firearm and 1,200 yaba pills from the spot.