Staff Reporter :
As the nationwide crackdown on drug and its dealers continues, 11 more suspected drug traders were killed in nine districts of the country on Tuesday.
This takes the mark of alleged drug peddlers killed in “gunfights” to over 40 in the last nine days, drawing criticism and concerns from rights activists as well as opposition political parties.
The law enforcers seized a jeep, some pistols with bullets, huge yaba pills and phensidyl during the drive in the districts.
According to our local correspondents, yesterday’s incidents of “gunfights” took place overnight on Tuesday in Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Cumilla, Feni, Chuadanga, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Brahmanbaria and Netrokona districts.
In Nilphamari, Johni Islam, 34, and Shahin, 32, were killed in Islambag area under Saidpur municipality in the district. During the gunfight, four police personnel were also injured, said Ashok Kumar Paul, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Saidpur circle).
Receiving a tip-off, police raided Golahat around 2:30am. Sensing police, the drug peddlers opened gunfire compelling the policemen to retaliate, the police officer said.
The two drug peddlers were killed in line of fire and four policemen injured. Some Yaba tablets were seized.
In Dinajpur, listed drug peddler Probal Hossain, 35, was killed in a gunfight in Birampur upazila, Abdus Sabur, Officer-in-Charge of Birampur Police Station said. One Sub-Inspector (SI) Khurshidul Alam was also injured. Police raided Damadarpur village around 2:15am and faced intense gunfire from the drug peddlers. A gunfight triggered when police retaliated. After the battle subsided, the body was recovered and a pistol, two bullets, and 93 bottles of phensidyl seized.
In Cumilla, two persons-Peyar Ali, 24, and Sharif, 26 — were killed in Sadar upazila’s Aranyapur around 12:40am, said Abu Salam Mia, Officer-in-Charge of local Kotwali Police Station.
After the gunfight, where four policemen were also injured, the team recovered the bodies and 400 bottles of Phensidyl, 50 kg hemp, a pistol with two round bullets and a Pajero Jeep.
In Narayanganj, accused drug peddler Bachchu, said to be a top-listed man, was killed in Araihazar upazila. A stash of yaba tablets and guns were seized from his possession, said a text message issued from Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
In Chattogram, Shukkur Ali, 45, was killed in Dobarpara area in the city. He stood accused in more than 10 cases, read an SMS sent from Rab headquarters. A haul of yaba, arms and bullets were recovered.
In Feni, Monjur Alam, 45, was killed on Lemua bridge area on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, said Rab-7 Squadron Leader Safayat Jamil.
According to him, the deceased Monjur, a top listed peddler whose name was on the list prepared by the Home Ministry, was arrested previously in 2015 with over 5 lakh yaba pills. He stood accused in multiple cases, including drug and robbery.
In Netrokona, an activist of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Amzad Hossain, 32, was killed in “gunfight” with police. Netrokona Model Police Station OC Borhan Uddin Khan said that he was a listed drug peddler and accused in as many as 13 cases, including murder, arms and explosives.
500gm heroin, 305 pieces of yaba pills and a pipe gun were recovered from his possession, the OC said. Four police officials were injured during the gun-battle. They took treatment at Netrokona Sadar Hospital yesterday morning.
In Chuadanga, a top drug peddler Kamruzzaman Sadu, 38, was killed in Alamdanga upazila, local police station OC Abu Zihand Mohammad Fakhrul Alam said.
Police recovered one gun, two machetes and 40 bottles of phensidyl from the spot. According to records, Sadu was accused in 12 drug cases filed with Alamdanga police station in Chuadanga.
In Brahmanbaria, a notorious drug peddler, Dhan Mia, was killed in a “gun battle” with RAB in Bancharampur upazila, according to a text message sent from its headquarters.
