Nine more people die in ongoing anti-drug crackdown in Bangladesh

Nine more people have been killed in what security forces described as shootouts as Bangladesh expanded its anti-drug crackdown across the country.

Law-enforcement agencies said they engaged in gun battles with drug traffickers in eight districts overnight on Tuesday.

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 or RAB.

The RAB and police said all of them were involved in drug trafficking, with some of them named in multiple narcotics cases.

At least 35 people have been killed in ‘shootouts’ by law-enforcement agencies throughout the country over 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.

KUSHTIA

At least two people have been killed in as many alleged shootouts overnight.

Kumarkhali Police Station Chief Abdul Khaleq said Fatik alias Gaffar, 37, died in a gunfight that occurred under the Gorai river bridge at the Upazila’s Lahini Parha area around 1am on Wednesday.

Fatik was a son of Osman Gani who hailed from Upazila’s Elengapara. He was named in cases with various police stations under the narcotics control law, he said.

A police team conducted an operation under the Gorai river bridge on a tip-off that a group of traffickers gathered there for drug trafficking.

“Sensing the police presence, the drug traffickers opened fire on them. Fatik was found shot wounded after law enforcers returned fire in retaliation,” said Khaleq.

He was rushed to Kushtia General Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

Another shootout took place at the Bheramar Upazila’s Hawrakhali field around 3:30am on Wednesday in where 45-year-old Liton Hossain died.

Liton was a son of Gulzar Hossain from Nauda Para in Bheramara municipal area.

Bheramara Police Station Chief Aminul Islam said he was a ‘top drug dealer’ and named in several cases with the police station.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team went to Hawrakhali field to arrest a gang of drug traffickers. As the police arrived on the scene, the gang opened fire, forcing them to fire back triggering a gunfight.

“Liton was caught in the line of fire and received bullet injuries,” Islam said.

He was rushed to Bheramara Thana Health Complex where the doctors declared him dead.

JAMALPUR

A man accused in 16 cases have been shot to death in the anti-drug crackdown in Jamalpur.

Jamalpur Sadar Police Station Chief Nasimul Islam said the gunfight with police took place at Chhankanda Madrasha Ghat in the municipal town around 3am on Wednesday.

The dead was identified as Mosharraf Hossain Bidyut, 48, son of Nizam Uddin of Bagabid area of Jamalpur Municipality. He was named in 16 drug cases with the local police station. His wife was named in eight cases of narcotics.

Police raided the area and the drug traffickers opened file on them, forcing them to retaliate. This triggered the gunfight. “Bidyut died during the gunfight while his accomplices fled,” Islam said.

A shotgun, three rounds of bullets, 1,000 yaba pills and 100gm heroin were recovered from the scene.

The police chief said he along with Inspector Rashedul Hasan, ASI Sirajul Islam and Constable Faruk also suffered injuries during the gunfight.

FENI

Another man has been 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 has been 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.

GAIBANDHA

Raju Miah, 36, was killed in a gun-battle with the RAB in the early hours of Wednesday.

He was the son of Jabbar Miah of Rai village of the Upazila’s Barishal Union. The incident took place around 1:30am in Palashbari Upazila’s Bisramgachhi village, according to Major Rabbi, deputy commander of RAB-13 Gaibandha camp.

Raju was named in 18 cases mainly related to drug trafficking, according Mustafizur Rahman, investigation inspector of the local police station.

They signalled a car to stop but the drug traffickers opened fire from the car on them. The RAB fired back in a gunfight.

Rabbi said, “We raided the area and the gang opened fire, forcing us to retaliate. During the 10-minute gunfight, Raju died while his accomplices fled.”

RAB recovered a pistol, bullets and cannabis from the scene. Rabbi claimed two RAB members were also wounded during the gunfight.

CUMILLA

A man arrested in an anti-drug drive was killed in a midnight gunfight on Wednesday.

According to Kotwali Model Police Station Chief Mohammad Abu Salam Miah, the incident took place around 1pm in Samarchar area near Chandpur Bridge in Adarsh ​​Sadar Upazila.

The man was identified as Nurul Islam Iska alias Isa, son of Abdul Jalil of Gazipur village. Police said he was named in 11 narcotics cases.

Salam Miah said Isha was arrested on Tuesday afternoon in the anti-drug drive.

According to his information, four hundred Phensedyl bottles were recovered from Samarchar area of ​​Sadar Upazila.

“On returning, Isa's accomplices opened fire on the police. At the time, the police retaliated. At one stage, Isa was caught in the fire and received bullet injuries,” Miah said.

Later, he was rushed to the Cumilla Medical College Hospital and a doctor declared him dead.

Inspector of the Kotwali Model Police Station (investigation) Md Salahuddin, SI Maruf and Constable Mizan were also injured during the gunfight, according to police.

RANGPUR

A man was killed in a ‘shootout’ in Rangpur during the anti-drug operation.

The incident took place around 2:30pm on the Jafarganj Bridge in the city's Hajirhat area, said Additional Superintendent of Police of Rangpur Sadar Circle Saifur Rahman.

The deceased was identified as Shahin Mia, 45, son of Shahidur alias Sirajul of Manohar Shukanchauki area of ​​Rangpur City Corporation.

Police said Shahin was accused in 11 cases related to drug and highway robbery.

ASP Rahman said a team from Kotwali Police Station went to the spot to get information about drug trading near Jafarganj bridge.

“At the time, drug dealers opened fired on police. The police also fired back. Shaheen died on the spot. Others fled.”

Police have recovered 126 bottles of Phensedyl and a pistol from the spot.

THAKURGAON

A man accused of a drug case has been killed in a ‘gunfight’ after being arrested by the police.

District Superintendent of Police Farhat Ahmed said the incident occurred in ​​Thakurgaon-Pirganj road in Banbari area on Wednesday.

The dead was identified as Aktaful, 38, son of Velsa Mohammad of Parua village in Baliadangi Upazila. He was accused of attacking the police, stealing cows and was named in 19 drug cases.

Ahmed said police arrested Aktaful from his house on Tuesday midnight. Based on the information provided by him in the primary interrogation, police seized 100 bottles of Phensedyl.

“In the interrogation, he said he bought drugs from a drug dealer from Pirganj Upazila."

Based on his information, a team of Baliadangi police station rushed to the Upazila around 3am, said Ahmed.

“On the way, when the team reached Banbari area on Thakurgaon-Pirganj road, drug dealers opened fire on the police. Police also fired back. At one stage of the 20-minute shootout, the drug trader Akhtaful was killed. "

Five cocktails and several weapons were recovered from the scene.

In the operation, Baliadangi Police Station Chief ABM Sajedul Islam and Sub-Inspector Mohammad Khairuzzaman were injured, and they were treated at the Thakurgaon Modern Sadar Hospital.

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.

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.

Bogura Additional Police Super (Media) Sanatan Chakraborty said a team of police went to the city's Silimpur at night.

Yaba traders opened fire on police, forcing them to retaliate. Shahin was found with bullet injuries on the spot while others fled, according to Chakraborty.

As many as 400 yaba pills, a knife and eight shells of bullets were recovered from the scene, said the police. Shahin is accused in six cases with Bogura Sadar Police Station.