'BGB-Smugglers Gunfight': Myanmar woman killed, 4 injured in Cox's Bazar

An elderly Rohingya woman was killed and four others were hit by bullets when alleged yaba smugglers and BGB personnel "exchanged fire" at Shah Parir Dwip in Teknaf upazila early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Jahida Khatun, 60.

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The bullet-hit Myanmar nationals are: Mohammad Kashem, 80, Majuma, 49, and Rashida, 25. Bangladeshi Mohammad Shafik, 35, of Shah Parir Dwip in Teknaf, was also among the injured.

The BGB team also detained a Bangladeshi and recovered 28,000 yaba tablets.

Lt Col Abujar Al Jahid, commanding officer of 2 BGB Battalion in Teknaf, said acting on a tip-off, a BGB patrol team went to Golarchar area along the Naf river around 12:30am. 

They then saw two boats heading towards Bangladesh from Myanmar and signalled them to stop. Instead of stopping, alleged yaba smugglers on the boats opened fire. The BGB members returned fire, triggering a "gunbattle", the BGB official said.

During the "gunfight", four Myanmarese citizens, including Jahida, and a Bangladeshi were hit.

The five were first taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared Jahida dead. The four others were later moved to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital.

One of the boats managed to turn back, while the other got stuck in a char, the BGB official said, adding that the BGB members then searched the stranded boat and recovered 28,000 yaba tablets.

A case was filed with Teknaf Police Station.

Main Uddin Khan, officer-in-charge of the police station, said the body of Jahida was sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.