Sayeed Muhammad: As the countrywide crackdown on suspected drug abusers and peddlers continues, two more people were killed in separate “gunfights” in Comilla and Cox’s Bazar yesterday.
One of the deceased was killed in a “shoot out” with police while another killed  in a “gun battle” between two groups of yaba peddlers, The Daily Star reports referring to police.
With the latest development, at least 129 people have been killed in the incidents of the so-called shootouts in the last 20 days.
In Comilla, Saddam Hossain, 36, was killed in the “gunfight” with police in Chauddagram upazila of Comilla around 2:40am.
A police team conducted a drive at Koroibon in the upazila after receiving information that a gang of drug peddlers took position in the area.
Sensing presence of police, the gang fired gun shots at the police, forcing the law enforcers to retaliate, which led to the “gun battle”.
After the “gunfight”, police spotted the bullet-riddled body of Saddam on the spot, said the OC adding that Saddam was accused in 12 cases including 10 drug-related cases.
Some 200 bottles of Phensedyl and firearms were recovered from the spot.
In Cox’s Bazar, Shahjahan, also chief of criminal gang ‘Shahjahan Bahini’, was killed in a reported gunfight with his rival group in Chakaria upazila around 1:30am.