Two suspected criminals including a yaba trader were killed in two separate “gunfights” with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in Cox’s Bazar and Pabna early today.

Deceased Mohammad Rubel, 22, a yaba trader, of Jadimora village in Taknaf of Cox’s Bazar; and Md Amin Hossain, 40, a robber of Paida village in Pabna Sadar, our local correspondent reports quoting Rab.  

In Cox’s Bazar, acting on a tip-off that a consignment of yaba was being smuggled through Marine Drive Road, a team of Rab-15 conducted a drive at Habirpara around 3:00am, said Mirza Shahed Mahtab, company commander of Rab at Teknaf.

Sensing Rab members’ presence, yaba traders opened fire, forcing the elite force to retaliate, triggering a gunfight for 15 minutes, he added.

After the gunfight, Rab men found bullet-hit yaba trader, he said.

The injured was rushed to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, said the Rab official.

Later police sent the body to Cox’s Bazar General Hospital where he was identified as Mohammad Rubel, he added. 

Rab seized 10,000 yaba tablets, a locally made firearm and three bullets from the spot.

In Pabna, a team of the elite force raided Rajapur in Sadar upazila around 3:00am following a secret information that a gang of robbers were taking preparation for robbery, said Aminul Kabir Tarafder, commanding officer (CO) of Rab-12.

The suspected criminals opened fire during the raid, he said.

In retaliation, the lawmen fired back that triggered a “gunfight” between them.

At one stage, Amin was caught in line of fire and died on the spot while other criminals managed to escape, the CO said.

Amin was accused of 11 cases including three for murder, the Rab official said. 

Rab also seized a pistol and two sharp weapons from the scene.