Eight 'drug peddlers' killed in gunfights in Bangladesh

At least eight suspected drug traders were killed in 'gunfights' with law enforcers in Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Narsingdi, Jhenidah, Tangail and Jashore districts early Monday.

With the latest ones, a total of 28 people have been killed in 'gunfights' across the country since May 12.

In Chuadanga, Jonab Ali, 32, son of Jamat Ali, a resident of village Uthali of Jibannagar upazila and a ‘listed drug peddler’ was killed in a reported gunfight with police around 12:45am.

Mahmud Hossain, officer-in-charge of Jibannagar police station, said when a patrol team of police reached in an area adjacent to a field, around 10 to 12 drug peddlers opened fire on the police, prompting them to retaliate, triggering the gunfight.

At one stage, when the gang members fled the scene, they recovered the body of Jonab from the spot.

Sub-inspector Milon, two constables Walid Rahman and Jewel Hossain were also injured in the gunfight.

Police recovered a shot-gun, two cartridges, three machetes and a sack of Phensedyl from the spot.

In Rahshahi, a ‘listed drug peddler’, Liakat Ali Mandal, 40, accused in seven drug cases, hailing from village Namajgram of Puthia upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with the Rapid Action Battalion in Khurdo Jamira area under Belpukur police station of the city around 12:30am.

Major Asraful Islam, deputy commanding officer of RAB-5, said a gang of drug peddlers attacked a patrol team of RAB and opened fire on them, prompting them to retaliate, triggering the gunfight.

Liakat received bullet when he tried to flee the scene riding a motorcycle and died on the spot.

The elite force also recovered 823 pieces of Yaba tablets, a foreign pistol with two rounds and the motorcycle.

In Narsingdi, a ‘listed drug peddler’, Iman Ali, a resident of Kauria para of the district town, was killed in a reported gunfight with the RAB in Ghorashal toll plaza area of Palash upazila around 4:00am.

Company commander Jasim Uddin confirmed the incident adding that two RAB members were also injured.

In Jhenidah, a ‘suspected drug peddler’, Mohammad Sabdul Islam, 45, son of late Mohammad Ali, was killed in a reported gunfight with the RAB around 1:30am.

RAB officials said that a team of the elite force set up a check-post in the area as part of regular patrol.

They signaled a motorcycle while it was passing by the check-post.

Ignoring the signal, the rider opened fire on the elite force, prompting them to retaliate, triggering the gunfight, which left Sabdul dead on the spot.

They also recovered a pistol, two bullets, a magazine, 100 bottles of Phensedyl and Tk 1100 in cash.

In Tangail, a ‘suspected drug peddler’, Abul Kalam Azad Khan, 42, son of late Abdur Rahman Khan, a resident of Purbo Pakutia of Ghatail upazila, and also accused in five cases, was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with the RAB in a brick field area of Deula Bari around 12:00am.

The elite force recovered a foreign pistol, three bullets, a magazine, 100 bottles of Phensedyl and 1500 pieces of Yaba tablets from the spot, said Rabiul Alam, commander of CPC-3 of RAB-12.

Assistant sub-inspector Hamidul Islam and Nayek Anisur Rahman were injured in the gunfight, he added.

In Jessore, police recovered three bullet-hit bodies of ‘suspected drug peddlers’ from Kholadanga and Taraf Noapara area around 2:00am.

AKM Azmal Huda, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said that the drug peddlers were killed in gunfights between rival groups.

Police also recovered arms, Phensedyl and Yaba from the spots.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net