Nine more people have been killed in what security forces described as shootouts as the nationwide drive against drugs continues.
Law-enforcement agencies said they engaged in gun battles with drug traffickers in eight districts overnight on Tuesday, reports agencies.
Among the dead, two people have been killed in Kushtia in an alleged shootout with police while one person died in Jamalpur, Cumilla, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon and Rangpur each. One died in Feni and Gaibandha each in a shootout with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
The RAB and police said all of them were involved in drug trafficking, with some of them named in multiple narcotics cases.
According to reports, 48 people were killed in 'gunfights' across the country since May 12. Of them at least 35 people were killed in the last five days.
Although they disapprove the prevalence of drug in the country, rights organisations expressed their anxiety over the killings and the way the law-enforcement agencies are combating drug trafficking.
They demanded an end to these extrajudicial killings.
In Cumilla, Nurul Absar Isa, a top listed drug peddler was killed in reported gunfight between his cohorts and police in Gumti embankment area of Adarsha Sadar upazila early Wednesday.
Police arrested Nurul on Tuesday and following the information provided by him, a police team, led by additional Superintendent of Cumilla Police (sadar Circle) Tanvir Salehin, conducted a drive in the area to recover drugs, said Abu Salam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Model Police Station.
Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the associates of Nurul opened fire to police, forcing them to fire back that triggered a gunfight.
Nurul was wanted in seven cases filed with different police stations, said the OC.
In Jamalpur, a suspected drug peddler was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Sankanda in the municipality area, said Nasimul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.
The deceased was identified as Mosharraf Hossain Bidyut, 40, son of Nizam Uddin of Bagbaid village.
In Rangpur, Shaheen, 45, an alleged drug peddler and son of Shahidur alias Sirajul Islam of Abhirampur Sukanchaki village in the city was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Hazirhat Bridge area in the city around 2 am.
Saifur Rahman, additional superintendent of Rangpur police, said the gunfight took place as a patrol team of police went there after receiving information of drug dealing in the area.
Police also recovered one pistol and 129 bottles of Phensidyl from the spot.
In Gaibandha, Raju Mia, a listed drug peddler and son of Abdul Jabbar of Raigram in Palashbari upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight between his cohorts and the RAB at Bisramgacchi village in the upazila early in the morning.
In Kushtia, Fatik alias Gaffar, 37, an alleged drug peddler, was killed in a reported gunfight at Lahini Para area in the district town.
Being tipped-off that some drug traders gathered in the area, a police team conducted a drive there to arrest them, said Abdul Khaleq, officer-in-charge of Kumarkhali Police Station.
At one stage, sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on them, forcing them to fire back that triggered a gunfight, police said.
Five policemen were injured during the gunfight, said the OC.
Police also recovered a firearm, a bullet, 700 pieces of Yaba tablets and 500 grams of hemp from the spot.
Besides, Aminul Islam, OC of Bheramara Police Station, said Liton Sheikh, 40, son of Golbar Sheikh of Naudapara village, was killed in the gunfight that took place near Hawakhali Brick Kiln filed in the upazila early in the morning.
Police also recovered a LG gun, three bullets, 500 pieces of Yaba tablets and some heroin from the spot.
In Thakurgaon, Aftabul, 38, a suspected drug pusher and son of Belsa Mohammd of Parua village in Baliadangi upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Bhatarmari on Thakurgaon-Pirganj road in the early hours of Wednesday.
Aftabul was wanted in 20 cases including 15 drug related cases, said AKM Sajedul Islam, officer-in-charge of Baliadangi Police Station.
Police recovered 100 bottles of phensidyl syrup from his possession, he added.
In Lalmonirhat, Nur Alam Asha, 35, has been shot dead in the anti-drug crackdown in the Sadar Upazila's Dharla Charanchal on Wednesday.
Asha, son of Azim Uddin of Panimachakuti village in Fulbari Upazila of Kurigram district, was part of a drug syndicate. He was named in a series of cases related to drugs, according to Police Super SM Rashidul Haque.
Police seized 20kg of marijuana, 50 bottles of Phensidyl, several bullet shells and six sharp weapons from the spot.
Another man was killed in a so-called shootout with RAB in Feni on Tuesday.
The shootout took place around 12am at Daudpur area in Feni town, said Squadron Leader Shafayet Jamil, company captain of Feni RAB-8.
The dead was identified as 35-year-old Mohammad Faruk, son of Oli Ahmed from Chandanais area in Chattogram.
He was named in several police cases under the narcotics control law, according to the RAB.
Jamil said a RAB team set up a checkpoint in Daudpur kitchen market area on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on a tip-off that a cache of drugs was being taken from Chattogram to Dhaka.
They signalled a private car to stop but the drug traffickers opened fire from the car on them. The RAB fired back, triggering a gunfight.
"Farruque was injured in the gun battle," said Jamil.
He was rushed to Feni Sadar Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
RAB members recovered arms, bullets and 22,000 yaba pills from the scene, and impounded the car.
Meanwhile, in Bogura a suspected drug smuggler was injured in a 'gunfight' with police in the district.
The injured has been identified as Shahin Miah alias Haji Shahin, 42, son of Azizar Rahman of Chak Sutrapur's Haddipatri area. He was admitted to Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.
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