ANTI-DRUG CRACKDOWN 15 more killed in ‘gunfights’

Fifteen more suspected drug peddlers were killed in reported gunfights across the country early Wednesday amid allegations that thy of picking up the victims by people identifying themselves as members of law enforcement agencies prior to killing them in ‘gunfights’.
Besides, a total of over 13,000 ‘drug peddlers’ and ‘abusers’ were arrested by the police and Rapid Action Battalion during the ongoing countrywide drives.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a press briefing at her official residence Ganabhaban on the day warned that none involved in drug peddling would be spared.
She said that the drive did not begin all on a sudden; it was started after watching for a long time.
With the Wednesday’s toll, deaths in the countrywide drives soared to 125 in 16 last days. 
Against such a backdrop, human rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra on Wednesday expressed further concern and condemned the shootout spree.
‘Deaths of such a huge number of people in such a short period are not acceptable,’ ASK executive director Sheepa Hafiza said in a press release.
Every citizen was entitled to get justice according to the constitution and international human rights charters, she said, adding, therefore, the offenders must be tried though legal process, not by law enforcing agencies.
US ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat, while talking to reporters after meeting home minister Asaduzzaman Khan at city’s secretariat, expressed concern over the growing number of people dying in crackdown on drug peddlers and emphasised catching ‘kingpins’ and finding the sources of illegal drugs and bringing the persons responsible to justice and respecting human rights.
Bangladesh Police headquarters officials said they arrested about 9,600 people since May 19, the day they began the anti-drug drive.
Rapid Action Battalion’s legal and media wing officials said they had arrested 3,574 people including 565 drug peddlers and 2,892 drug addicts since May 4, the day RAB began its crackdown.
In Dhaka, three suspected drug peddlers – Ataur Rahman Ata, 46, named in at least 24 cases, Faruque Islam alias Bappi, 37, and Mostafa Hawlader, 50, were killed in a ‘gunfight’ with RAB near Dewanpara Lohar Bridge under Bhasantek in the capital on Wednesday about 3:00am, as per a message sent to media by RAB.
It said that RAB seized two firearms, 18,000 Yaba tablets and 2 cans of beer from the spot.
In Cox’s Bazar, suspected drug peddler Md Mojibur Rahman, 42, suspected top dealer of drugs in Netrakona, was killed in a gunfight with the battalion personnel at Kabita Chattar under Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station sometimes after 12:00am, claimed RAB-7 company commander Major Ruhul Amin.
In Chittagong, suspected drug peddler Omor Faruk alias Ishak, 35, of Jhaotala area under Kotwali Police Station in Chittagong, was killed in a gunfight with the battalion personnel in Polo Ground area in the city about 12:30am, RAB-7 company commander Lieutenant Commander Ashequr Rahman said.
Besides, Sitakunda police recovered the bullet-hit body of suspected drug peddler Rajib Hossain, 32, of village South Mohadevpre under Sitakunda from Cota Kumira of Sitakunda municipal area in the morning.
‘He is supposed to be killed during a gunfight between two groups of drug peddlers about 2:30am. There are several cases against him including murdering two ethnic Tripura girls lodged with Sitakunda police station,’ a message sent to media by Chittagong police read.
In Narail, suspected drug peddler Sajib, 27, of village Duttapara under Sadar upazila was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police at Malibagh under the upazila about 2:30am, said Sadar police officer-in-charge Anwar Hossain.
In Chuadanga, wanted ‘top drug peddler’ Tanjil Hossain, 30, of village Doulatdiar under Sadar upazila, also named in 12 cases, was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police at Satgari Natunpara in the municipality area about 3:00am, said Sadar police officer-in-charge Abdul Khaleque.
Our Correspondent in Comilla, quoting Burichang Police Station office-in-charge Manoj Kumar Dey, reported that suspected drug peddler Rosmat Ali, 40, village Choygram under Burirchang, also named in seven drugs related cases, was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with police at Laribagh under the upazila early Wednesday. 
New Age Correspondent in Sirajganj, quoting the district RAB camp commander Sakibul Islam Khan, reported that Ahsan Habib, 45, of village Hatpara under Kamarkhanda, was killed in a ‘gunfight’ with RAB personnel at Jhaoil footbridge area under the district on Wednesday about 2:00am.
New Age correspondent in Jessore, quoting Benapole Port Police Station officer-in-charge Apurba Hasan, reported that two suspected drug peddlers — Liton Hossain, 42, of village Talsari under Benapole Port Police Station and Jahangir Hossain, 45, of village Raghunathpur under Sharsha — were killed in a ‘gunfight’ between two groups of drug peddlers at bordering Baroanchra village under Benapole port police station about 2:50am.
Liton’s wife Parul Begum and his son Mehedi Hasan, who came to Jessore General Hospital morgue, alleged that plainclothes policemen picked up Liton from Jessore Central Jail around 11:00am on Monday. 
New Age correspondent in Magura, quoting the district assistant commissioner Md Sairuddin Ahmed, reported that police recovered the bodies of three drug peddlers — Bachchu Chopdar, 50, of Bhaina, Kishore Adhikari, 40, of Natun Bazar Bairagi Para and Raihan Dhali alias British, 23, of Islampurpara of the district town from Batikadanga field of Magura municipal area after a ‘gunfight’ between two groups of drug peddlers about 1:00am.

UNB adds: Around 1,000 Yaba tablets were recovered from the abdomen of a drug trader after surgery at a hospital in Barisal on Wednesday.
Barisal metropolitan police assistant commissioner Nasir Uddin Mallick said detectives arrested four drug dealers, including Nur Alam, 50, of Charshita in Laxmipur, from Rupatali area of the city on Tuesday night.
Nur suddenly fell sick and one stage of interrogation, he said he was carrying Yaba tablets in his abdomen.
Later, he was taken to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital where Yaba tablets in a poly bag were removed from the abdomen through surgery at noon, he said. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net