Suspected yaba dealer killed in Teknaf ‘gunfight’

A suspected yaba dealer has been killed in a reported gunfight with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Shahpari Dwip in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar.

The incident took place at Jaliapara in Sabrang union of Shahpari Dwip at around 3am on Tuesday.

The deceased, presumed to be a 50-year-old Myanmarese national, could not be identified immediately. 

Around 52,000 pieces of yaba pills, a locally-made firearm, and a bullet casing were recovered from the spot, said Teknaf BGB Battalion 2 Commander Lt Col Md Faisal Hasan Khan, while confirming the matter to Dhaka Tribune.

According to Lt Col Faisal, a surveillance team of Teknaf BGB Battalion first spotted the boat carrying the assailants approaching Shahpari Dwip from Myanmar late Monday night.

Informed, the regional special patrol commander sent out a BGB patrol team to the spot.

At around 3am, the patrol team spotted two suspects on a wooden boat crossing the zero line of the Naf River and trespassing into Bangladesh.

Challenged by BGB, the armed individuals opened fire indiscriminately. A BGB member was injured at that time. 

Later, when the BGB patrol team took cover and retaliated, one of the assailants was shot, who then fell overboard, while the other jumped into the river and swam across the zero point back to Myanmar.

A search of the boat later revealed the yaba pills and the locally made firearm.

The body was recovered later at around 6:30am, when locals informed the patrol team of a body that had floated up the Naf River.

Teknaf Model police station Inspector (Investigation) Abdul Alim said police recovered the bullet-riddled body of an unidentified man early Tuesday. “The body has been sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.”