Two drug suspects die in Himchhari ‘gunfight’

Two persons with ties to drug trafficking have been killed in a ‘gunfight’ at a joint checkpoint of RAB and BGB at Himchhari, a beachside tourist area in Cox’s Bazar.

The ‘gunfight’ took place at around 4am on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive, said Maj Iqbal Ahmed, deputy chief of Cox’s Bazar battalion of BGB.

One of the dead has been identified as Enamul Haque, 26, from Chandpur. The second man is yet to be identified.

BGB officials believe both men were drug traffickers as arms and yaba pills have been found in their bags.

A team of BGB set up a checkpoint at Himchhari that night. Later, a team of RAB joined them.

“A car from Teknaf on its way to Cox’s Bazar town tried to change its course when it neared the checkpoint.”

“The men in the car opened fire on BGB and RAB members when they chased the vehicle. RAB and BGB retaliated in self-defence leaving two drug-traders dead on the spot.”

Later, fire arms, bullets and a bag of yaba pills were recovered from the car. The car has been confiscated too, said Iqbal.

The bodies have been handed over to the police who sent them to the Cox’s Bazar Central Hospital morgue for autopsy.