Four individuals, including three suspected robbers and a yaba trader, have been killed in two separate "gunfights" in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar.
The incidents occurred at Nurullaahghona hill area and Dargahpara area near the Marine Drive on early Saturday, Teknaf police station Officer-in-Charge (OC), Pradip Kumar Das, said.
The deceased have been identified as: Md Junayed, 36, Ayub, 30, Mehedi Hasan, 35 - all wanted in many robbery cases - and Imran Mollah, 32, an alleged yaba trader.
Law enforcement has claimed five policemen were also injured in the gunfights. They are: Additional Superintendent of police (ASP) Rezwan, OC Pradip, Inspector Manos Barua, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sajib and Kong Mehedi.
OC Pradip told the Dhaka Tribune that acting on a tip-off about a group a robbers preparing for theft, police conducted a drive at Nurullaahghona hill area.
However, as soon as they understood police presence, the gang of robbers fired at them, forcing police to fire back, which triggered the gunfight.
Police sent Junayed, Ayub, and Mehedi Hasan to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, where the duty doctors declared them dead.
He said there was another alleged gunfight between two gangs of yaba traders in Dargahpara area in Teknaf.
Acting on a tip-off, police went to the spot and found an injured Imran. He was sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, where the duty doctors declared him dead.
Law enforcement has detained two people Saifuddin Shahin, 38, and Md Siddiq, 27, in connection with the incident. They said separate cases have been filed with Teknaf police station over the issue.
The bodies have been kept at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy, the police official added.
Police also found seven locally made fire arms, five sharp weapons, and 25 bullets from the spot.
