As many as 13 people have been killed in shootouts with security forces between Tuesday midnight and Wednesday morning across Bangladesh, police say.
The incidents were reported from Dhaka, Benapole, Magura, Narail, Cumilla, Sirajganj, Chattaogram and Cox’s Bazar. Police claimed all of the victims were ‘drug-dealers’.
Dhaka
Rapid Action Battalion reported death of three people, who they say were ‘drug dealers’
The victims were Bappi, 38, Ataur Rahaman Ata, 40, and Mostafa Howlader, 45.
RAB's Legal and Media Wing Director Mufti Mahmud Khan said a shootout erupted between a RAB-4 team and drug-traffickers during a raid at near Dewanpara bridge of Bhashantek area early Wednesday.
The trio was caught in cross-fire and brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where duty doctors declared them dead around 6am, according to sources at the DMCH.
RAB also seized a large amount of drug substances, arms and bullets during the raid.
Of the three, Mostafa was named in 7 to 8 cases while Bappi was named in a murder case, RAB-4 Commanding Officer Chowdhury Mojurul Kabir said.
Benapole
Police recovered the bodies of two people, who were believed to have been killed in a gunfight between two gangs of drug traffickers in Bara Acnhra village early Wednesday.
Benapole port police officer-in-charge Apurba Hasan said the bodies were sent to Jashore general hospital for autopsy.
Police also seized 10 kilogram hemps, a pistol and two bullets from the spot.
Magura
Police recovered the bullet-riddled bodies in Batikdanga area of Sadar upazila early Wednesday.
Police said they are the victims of infighting between two gangs over sharing of drug money.
Narail
32-year-old Sajib Sheikh was killed in a shootout between drug dealers and police on Narail-Lohagara road in Malibag area of Sadar upazila around 2am, police said.
Five police members were also injured, Sadar police officer-in-charge Anwar Hossain told Bangla Tribune.
Cumilla
One Rochmat Ali, 40, was killed in a shootout with police in Laribag area of Burichang upazila of the district around 1am Wednesday.
The victim was accused in seven drug-related cases, Burichang police officer-in-charge Monoj Kumar Dey said adding three policemen have also been injured.
Sirajganj
RAB said ‘drug dealer’ Ahsan Habib, 45, was killed in a shootout at Kamarkhand.
RAB also confiscated a shooter gun, 100 pieces of contraband yaba tablet and 20 bottles of phensedyl during the raid, RAB-12 CO Sakibul Islam said.
Chattogram
‘Drug dealer’ Ishak was killed in a shootout with RAB in Pologorund area of the port city at 1am.
Ishak was named in 19 cases including arms and murder, said RAB-7 Deputy-Director Ashekur Rahman.
Cox’s Bazar
RAB said ‘top drug trafficker’ Mujubur Rahaman. 42, was killed in a shootout at Kabita Chatar on Cox’s Bazar sea beach at 12:30am Wednesday.
The victim was named in 10 cases, RAB-7 CO Ruhul Amin said adding 6,000 pieces of yaba tablets and a shooter gun and three round bullets have been seized from the spot/
(Inputs provided by Bangla Tribune correspondents in Benapole, Magura, Narail, Cumilla, Sirajganj, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar)