Yaba trader killed in Cox’s Bazar ‘gunfight’

A yaba trader was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila early Saturday.

The deceased could not be identified yet.

Lieutenant Colonel Foysal Hasan Khan of Teknaf-2 BGB battalion said, "Being tipped off that a big consignment of Yaba was coming from Mymanmar through the Naf River, the BGB strengthened patrolling in No.1 sluice gate area."

At one stage of patrolling, the BGB team challenged a wooden-boat carrying three people who were trying to intrude into Bangladesh territory around 4am.

When BGB signalled them to stop, they opened fire, forcing BGB to retaliate, triggering the skirmish, the BGB official added.

At one stage of the gunfight, two people from the boat jumped into the river and fled the scene.

Later, the BGB team rescued a bullet-injured youth from the boat.

The injured were taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where doctors pronounced him dead, said the BGB official.

They also recovered 2.10 lakh contraband Yaba pills and a firearm from the boat.

Two BGB members were also injured in the gunfight, he added.