Three Rohingyas, suspected to be drug traders, have been killed in an alleged gunfight with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Ukhiya upazila, Cox’s Bazar.
The incident took place at Tulatuli Jalil area of Rajapalong union around 4am on Thursday.
The deceased were identified as, Noor Alam, 45, resident of Tumbru Konarpara Zeropoint Rohingya camp, Md Hamid, 25, resident of Kutupalong Rohingya camp 2 and Najir Hossain, 25.
BGB said two of their men were injured during the gunfight and were admitted to Ukhiya Hospital.
Cox’s Bazar 34 BGB Commanding Officer (CO) Lt Col Ali Haider Azad Ahmed confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
“A BGB team was patrolling the border area along the Tumbru point, when 10-12 men crossed the border from Myanmar into Bangladesh. At the time BGB members challenged them and that is when they started shooting at our men,” he added.
“At one point they escaped into the jungle. Later BGB men seized around 300,000 pieces of yaba pills, two locally made pipe-guns and five-round bullets and took the three injured to the Upazila Health Complex, where the on duty doctors declared them dead,” the BGB official said.
Before that, while giving the three primary medical care, BGB learnt of their identities.
The bodies were sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for an autopsy.
Preparations for filing a case with Ukhiya police station in this regard were in progress when this report was filed.