2 ‘drug dealers’ killed in ‘gunfights’

The alleged gunfights took place in Rajshahi and Munshiganj

Two suspected drug peddlers have been killed in what the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) described as gunfights, in Rajshahi and Munshiganj.

In Munshiganj, RAB claimed they raided Sreenagar, on Sunday morning, after being tipped- off that drugs were being sold in Baghra union.

“A gunfight took place between RAB and the drug peddlers,” said RAB 11 CPC 1 ASP Muhitul Islam. “‘Notorious drug dealer’ Sohrab was found, lying at on the spot, after the skirmish.”

Sohrab, 35, was taken to Upazila Health Complex where doctors pronounced him dead.

Muhitul said two RAB members were also injured in the gunfight.

RAB claimed to have recovered: a foreign-made pistol, a bullet, 600 pieces of yaba pills, and cash Tk10,500 cash from the spot.

ASP Muhitul said Sohrab is accused in more than a dozen cases of: murder, attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms, and robbery.

Meanwhile, in Rajshahi, RAB 5 deputy commander Maj AM Ashraful Islam said one of their patrol teams came across a group of drug dealers in Nabaganga area during a regular patrol ahead of the city polls.

“Several men opened fire at on our team, leading to a skirmish,” he said. “We found an unidentified man, hit by bullets, lying on the spot after the gunfight.”

RAB took the man to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital around 12:45am— where doctors pronounced him dead.

Ashraful said they recovered a pistol with a magazine and two bullets, and 58 bottles of contraband phensedyl, from the spot.

More than 100 suspected drug dealers have been killed in alleged gunfights with law enforcement since Bangladesh launched a countrywide anti-narcotics drive in May.