‘Gunfight’ with BGB: 3 Rohingya ‘yaba dealers’ killed in Cox’s Bazar

Three Rohingya men, suspected to be yaba smugglers, were killed in a "gunfight" with members of Border Guard Bangladesh in Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar early yesterday.

The dead are Noor Alam, 45, of Tumru Rohingya camp in Ghumdhum, Hamid, 25, of Balukhali camp, and Nazir Hossain, 25, of Kutupalong camp, BGB said.

Lt Col Ali Haider Azad, commander of 34th BGB battalion, said the border guards took position on Tulatoli frontier on information that a big consignment of yaba from Myanmar will enter Bangladesh.

When a gang of 10 to 12 were entering Bangladesh through the border around 4:00am, the BGB men signalled them to stop. But the smugglers opened fire, forcing them to retaliate, triggering a "gunfight", said Haider.

At one stage, the yaba smugglers managed to flee the scene.

Later, BGB members found the trio with bullet wounds. They were declared dead after being taken to Ukhia Upazila Health Complex, he added.

BGB members also recovered three lakh yaba pills, two pipe guns and five cartridges from the spot, the official said.

The Daily Star, however, could not independently verify the BGB claims.