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Nine die in one night’s gunfights

Drive against narcotics


May 22, 2018 00:00:00


Nine people were killed in the alleged crossfire in seven districts between Sunday night and Monday morning, report agencies.

Police and RAB claim that all of the dead are involved in drug trafficking. Some of the dead have been named in drug cases at various police stations.

Law enforcers have also recovered various amounts of narcotics and weapons during these raids.

Authorities told a news agency that five dealers gunned down on Monday were "top regional drug lords".

The districts where nine suspected drug traders were killed in 'gunfights' are Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Narsingdi, Jhenidah, Tangail, Jashore and Gazipur.

According to reports by the agencies, 29 people were killed in 'gunfights' across the country since May 12.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government will completely eradicate the drug menace from the country as it did in the case of militancy.

In Jashore, police recovered three bullet-hit bodies of suspected drug traders from Kholadanga and Taraf Noapara area around 2.0am.

AKM Azmal Huda, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station, said the drug traders were killed in separate gunfights between two groups of drug traders.

Police also recovered arms, Phensidyl and Yaba from the spots.

In Chuadanga, Jonab Ali, 32, son of Jamat Ali, a resident of Uthali village in Jibannagar upazila and a listed drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight with police around 12:45am.

Mahmud Hossain, OC of Jibannagar Police Station, said when a patrol team of police reached an area adjacent to a field, a gang of drug traders numbering 10-12 opened fire on police, prompting them to retaliate, triggering the gunfight.

When the gang members fled the scene, they recovered the body of Jonab from the spot.

Sub-inspector Milon, two constables -- Walid Rahman and Jewel Hossain -- were also injured in the gunfight.

In Rajshahi, 'listed drug trader' Liakat Ali Mandal, 40, accused in seven drug cases and hailing from Namajgram village in Puthia upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Khurdo Jamira area under Belpukur thana of the city around 12:30am.

Major Asraful Islam, deputy commanding officer of Rab-5, said a gang of drug traders attacked a patrol team of RAB and opened fire on them, forcing them to retaliate which sparked off the gunfight.

In Narsingdi, a wanted drug trader, Iman Ali, a resident of Kauriapara of the district town and also accused in nine drug cases, was killed in a reported gunfight with members of RAB at Ghorashal toll plaza in Palash upazila around 4.0am.

Company Commander Jasim Uddin confirmed the incident adding that two RAB members were also injured.

In Jhenidah, suspected drug trader Mohammad Sabdul Islam, 45, son of late Mohammad Ali, was killed in a reported gunfight with RAB around 1:30am.

In Tangail, suspected drug trader Abul Kalam Azad Khan, 42, son of late Abdur Rahman Khan of Purbo Pakutia of Ghatail upazila, and also an accused in five cases, was killed in a so-called gunfight with members of Rapid Action battalion in a brick field in Deula Bari around 12am.

In Gazipur, suspected drug trader Rezaul Islam alias Besoti Rony, son of Hafizul Islam of Ershadnagar area of Tongi, and also an accused in 15 cases, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Tongi around 3am.

Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Tongi Model Police Station, said a team of police a conducted drive in the area following a tip-off.

Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the drug traders opened fire on them, forcing them to retaliate, triggering the gunfight. Rony was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot.


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