A suspected drug trader has been killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion in Kabirpur of Ashulia, a suburban area near Dhaka.
The incident took place around 9am on Monday, at a local resident’s house in the area, which the deceased was using as a shelter.
The deceased, Raihan Sarker, 35, had long been involved in the local drug trade syndicate and was accused in multiple drug-related cases, police say.
Raihan used to sell drugs using picnic buses and covered vans and several teams of RAB were already making drives to arrest him, said RAB sources.
“Members of RAB-2 conducted a drive to the house on a tip-off and sensing their presence, Raihan opened fire at them, initiating a gunfight,” said Mohiuddin Faruqi, superintendent of RAB-2.
“After we retaliated, the firing eventually stopped and we found the bullet-shot body of Raihan, who died on the spot,” added the officer.
Two members of RAB-2 have also sustained injuries in the gunfight and RAB officials recovered 10,000 yaba pills, a foreign-made pistol, and two rounds of bullets from the spot.