Four more die in Bangladesh’s drug purge

At least four people have been killed in three districts during a nationwide crackdown against narcotics.

Dabir Hossian, 45 and Liton alias Rigan, 32, have been killed respectively in Rangpur and Bogura in two separate shootouts with law-enforcement agents.

Two others, Munna Miah, 30, and Idris Ali, 45, were found dead in gunfights between drug traffickers in Mymensingh, as claimed by the police.

Police have also arrested two suspected drug dealers wounded during shootouts in Dinajpur. They have been admitted to hospital later.

At least 128 people have been killed since law-enforcement agencies began the anti-drug drive on May 20.

Security forces have given similar statements regarding most of the deaths in the anti-drug drives that drug traffickers opened fire on them forcing law-enforcement agents to retaliate.

In some of the cases, they claimed to have found ‘bodies’ following ‘shootouts’ between two gangs of drug traffickers.

Human rights organisations have expressed their concern over the killings, raising questions about the authenticity of the reports.

The United Nations has said it is ‘closely monitoring’ the situation and urged Bangladesh to follow a ‘rights-based’ approach to control drugs.    

The law enforcement agencies’ account of the death of ward councillor Akramul Haque in Teknaf was challenged after an audio tape was released by his family claiming he was shot and killed by security forces.

The government said it will investigate the case.