Another 'Shootout' Spree: Six killed in a single day

Six people, including two alleged Rohingya drug traders, were killed in “shootouts” with law enforcers in Dhaka and two other districts early yesterday.

Of them, the drug traders and two suspected robbers were killed in “gunfights” with Border Guard Bangladesh and Rab in Cox's Bazar.

“Shootouts” with Rab and police left two alleged criminals dead in Dhaka and Gazipur.

The six were declared dead at different medical facilities after they were brought there.

Shariful Islam Jamaddar, acting commanding officer of BGB-2 Battalion in Cox's Bazar, said a “gunfight” broke out between BGB and a group of drug traders in Teknaf's Kharangkhali area around 4:30am yesterday when a BGB team was conducting an anti-narcotic drive there.

At one stage, the drug traders, who were entering Bangladesh crossing the Naf River, retreated, Shariful added.

The BGB men found two bullet-hit men lying injured on the spot later.

The two were rushed to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared them dead.

Police later identified the two as Mohammad Ilias, 18, of Kutupalong Rohingya camp and Faruk Mia of Balukhali camp.

The BGB official claimed to have recovered 1.9 lakh yaba tablets from the spot.

In Pekua upazila of Cox's Bazar, two suspected robbers were killed in another “gunfight” with Rab in Magnama coastal area around 4:00am. The identities of the two could not be confirmed.

Mehedi Hasan, company commander of Rab-7, said they were members of a robbery gang operating in the Bay of Bengal.

He claimed they recovered eight arms and 26 bullets from the spot.

In the capital, an alleged top criminal from Narsingdi was killed in a “shootout” with Rab in Bhasantek area. The dead is Shafik, 42.

Lt Col Kazi Shamsher Uddin, commanding officer of Rab-11, said a Rab team raided a house in Bhasantek around midnight on Tuesday to arrest Shafik.

Sensing the presence of law enforcers, criminals opened fire on the Rab men. The law enforcers fired retaliatory shots, triggering the “gunfight”, the Rab official added.

Shafik, accused in at least 12 cases, was injured by bullets. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead around 1:30am yesterday.

His associates Faruk and Pradip were held with three arms and bullets from the spot.

In Gazipur, a suspected criminal was injured in a “shootout” with police in Tongi around 4:00am, hours after he was picked up by law enforcers from Gazipura area.

Police took injured Kawsar Mia, 28, to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

OC Kamal Hossain of Tongi East Police Station said they picked up Kawsar, accused in several criminal cases, on Tuesday afternoon when he was preparing to commit mugging.

Later, a police team took him to Tongi's Banshpatti area and conducted a drive to recover illegal arms.

At one stage, Kawsar's associates fired bullets at police to snatch him away. Law enforcers fired retaliatory shots, forcing them to retreat.

The OC claimed the arrestee was hit with bullets fired by his cohorts.

Kawsar's family members said he was not facing any murder or robbery case. Police picked him up from near his home around 3:00pm on Tuesday. They heard the news of his death yesterday morning.

Our correspondents in Cox's Bazar and Gazipur contributed to this report.