Police shoot retired army major to death, arrest 2

A retired officer of Bangladesh Army was killed in police firing in Cox's Bazar Marine Drive on Friday night. 

The deceased was identified as retired major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan, 36, from Jashore. 

Sources at police said Sinha was going to Cox's Bazar from Teknaf with some other persons in his personal vehicle. When police officials at the Baharchhara check post of the Marine Drive stopped the car to check it, he tried to stop the police personnel and got into a verbal altercation with them. 

At one stage, Sinha pulled his gun out, the sources said, adding that at this point police shot him. 

Critically injured, he was rushed to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The autopsy was done on Saturday noon. 

"The Ministry of Home Affairs instructed us to stay alert during Eid. It said assailants can launch attacks across the country during the festival. Therefore, the district police remained on red alert since there are many Rohingya camps in Ukhiya-Teknaf area," ABM Masud Hossain, superintendent of police (SP), Cox's Bazar told The Business Standard. 

He further said police reportedly heard that 2-3 people wearing Burkha-type clothes had got down from a hill in Shaplapur area and got into a car. 

"When police personnel stopped and tried to search the vehicle, one of the passengers showed his gun and attempted to open fire at the policemen. Therefore, the police officials shot him to defend themselves," the SP added. 

ABM Masud Hossain further said two cases have been filed in connection with the incident. Police also arrested two of the passengers and confiscated the gun, he added. 

Fifty pieces of yaba, some weed and 2 bottles of foreign liquor were also recovered from their possession, he continued, a similar bottle of liquor was also found in the resort they were staying at. 

ABM Masud Hossain said the deceased retired Army major had been staying at the Nilima Resort in Himchhari for a month with 3 men and a woman. They were working on a documentary. 

"He was wearing an army undervest during the incident, which raised the suspicion further," he said. 
Another source at police said the government formed a committee led by a deputy secretary to investigate the death of the former army major. 

Rashed also worked with the Special Security Force (SSF) before. He is an officer of the 50th batch of BM Long course.