‘Drug trader’ killed in Thakurgaon ‘gunfight’ with BGB

‘Drug trader’ killed in Thakurgaon ‘gunfight’ with BGB

A suspected drug trader was killed in a reported gunfight with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members at Fakirganj in Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaonearly Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Monirul Islam Babul, 35, son of Maidul Islam of North Sujalpur in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur district.

Lt Col Gazi Nahid Uz Zaman, commanding officer of BGB-42, said a team of BGB arrested Babul from the bordering area on Wednesday night along with 112 bottles of Phensidyl and one bottle of wine.

Later, the team along with Babul conducted a drive at Fakirganj around 2am to recover more drugs, he said.

Sensing presence of the border guards, Babul's associates opened fire on them, forcing them to fire back that triggered a gunfight, Nahid said, adding that at one stage, Babul was caught in the line of fire and died while others managed to flee.

The BGB members also recovered 75 bottles of Phensidyl, one firearm, Tk 22,000 in cash and a sharp weapon from the spot, he said.