‘Drug dealer’ killed in ‘gunfight’

An alleged Rohingya drug peddler was killed in a "gunfight" with police in Cox's Bazar's Ukhia upazila early Sunday.

The dead, Shawkat Ali, 28, used to live in Balukhali Rohingya camp, said Marjina Akhter, officer-in-charge of Ukhia Police Station.

On information, a police team, led by Ukhia Circle ASP Nihad Adnan Taiyan, raided Moragachtola area around 2:00am to recover a consignment of yaba tablets, said the OC.

Sensing the law enforcers' presence, the drug peddlers opened fire. Police retaliated, triggering the "gunfight", she said. 

At one stage, Shawkat was hit, but his cohorts managed to flee, the OC said, adding that the injured was taken to Ukhia Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead.

Three police personnel, including ASP Nihad, were hurt, the OC claimed.

Police also claimed to have recovered 1.1 lakh yaba pills, a pistol, and four bullets from the spot.