‘Yaba peddler’ killed in ‘gunfight’

A suspected drug peddler was killed in a "gunfight" with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) men in Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar early yesterday.

The dead could not be identified immediately but BGB suspected that he belonged to the Rohingya community.

Lt Col Ali Haidar Azad, commanding officer of 34th BGB battalion, claimed to have recovered 37,000 pieces of yaba pills, a long-barrel gun and ammunition from the spot in Rahamater-Beel area at Palangkhali union.

A patrol team of BGB signaled a man to stop as he was trying to flee Rahamater-Beel area. Instead of halting, the man opened fire on the patrolling team, forcing them to retaliate, the BGB official said.

After the "gunfight" ended, BGB men found his body, the drugs and the arms, he added.

The body was sent to Cox's Bazar General Hospital for autopsy, while filing of a case was underway, Lt Col Ali said.