Suspected Rohingya drug dealer killed in Teknaf 'gunfight'

A suspected Rohingya drug dealer has been killed in a reported gunfight with the members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar.

The gunfight took place in Beribadh area of Nowapara adjacent to the Naff River early Sunday.

The deceased is Md Saker, 22, a resident of Block H/6 of Balukhali refugee camp 9 in Ukhiya.

The BGB also seized 240,000 Yaba pills, a locally made gun, two cartridges, and a sharp weapon from the spot.

The border guard force claimed that two of its personnel were also injured during the gunfight.

Lt Col Mohammad Faisal Hasan Khan, commanding officer of BGB Battalion 2 in Teknaf, said they were tipped off about a drug smuggling bid from Myanmar and a team of BGB took position at Lobon Math in Nowapara around 4:30am.

When a group of drug dealers reached Beribadh from Myanmar, crossing the river by boat, the BGB members challenged them.

The drug peddlers opened fire on the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate with fire for self-defence that triggered the gunfight, the BGB official said.

At one stage, the drug dealers retreated from the scene. 

The BGB members later searched the spot and found one of the drug peddlers lying with bullet-wounds.

"Two of our BGB members were also hurt in the gunfight," he said.

All of the wounded were taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where the BGB members were treated.

The drug dealer was referred to Cox's Bazar General Hospital where the on-duty physicians declared him dead, Faisal Hasan said.

The body was sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy.