At least nine suspected drug dealers were killed in separate gunfights at several areas of Jashore, Tangail, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Narsingdi, Rajshahi, and Gazipur in the early hours of Monday, said law enforcers. The reported gunfights mostly occurred as members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police conducted raids to detain suspected drug sellers. In Jashore, Police recovered three bodies shot in heads from two different spots in the early hours of Monday. However, police could not identify the bodies. Primarily the law enforcers are assuming the bodies as deceased drug peddlers as Yaba tablets were also recovered from the incident scenes. Jashore Kotwali Police Officer-in-charge (OC) AKM Azmal Huda said being tipped off about two incidents of gun battles between two drug dealer teams at Sheikhhati and Kholadanga at about 3:30am, police went to spots. Police recovered two dead bodies and around 400 Yaba pills from Sheikhhati while another body and around 100 pieces Yaba from Kholadanga field at the suburb. OC said the law enforcers also recovered two pistols and used bullets from the spots. The Jashore General Hospital’s Emergency Unit physician Kollol Kumar Shaha said Kotwali police Sub-inspector (SI) Tarun Kumar brough a bullet-hit body at about 4:05am on Monday while Jashore Uposhohor police post in-charge Abdur Rahim brought two other bodies to the hospital. Three of the deceased were killed for receiving bullets on their head. The bodies were kept at the morgue of the hospital. In Tangail, an alleged drug dealer, named Abul Kalam Azad, in his forties, was killed in a reported shootout with RAB at Ghatail upazila. The gunfight took place between RAB-12 members and drug dealers, as the law enforcing members went there to conduct drive at about 12:30am. The deceased, Abul Kalam Azad Khan, is a resident of East Pakutia under Ghatail. He was wanted in six cases for his connection with illegal drug trade. RAB-12 CPC-3 company commander Rabiul Islam said sensing the presence of law enforcers a gang of around five drug dealers opened fire to them, RAB also fired back, which triggered a gunfight. Drug dealer Abul Kalam Azad received bullets during the gunfight. Later, he was taken to a local hospital, where doctors declared him dead. RAB members also recovered a foreign-made pistol, three bullets, a magazine, 100 bottles of phensedyl, 1500 pieces of Yaba and other drug materials from the spot. In Jhenaidah, a drug trader was killed in a reported shootout at the village of Narendrapur in Kaliganj upazila in the early hours of Monday. The deceased is Mohammad Sabdul Islam. RAB-6 Jhenaidah Camp officials said drug dealers opened fire at RAB members at Tematha area of the village at about 1:45am, RAB also fired back to them, which left Sabdul injured. Later, he was recovered and took to Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. RAB claimed to have recovered huge amount of phensedyl, Yaba tablets, a pitol, bullets and local-made arms from the spot. Meanwhile in Chuadanga, a suspected drug peddler was killed in a reported gunfight with police at the village of Uthali of Jibonnagar upazila at about 1:00am. The deceased is Jonab Ali, in his thirties, was a resident of Amtalapara of the village, Police also recovered a LG (Leichtgeschütz) gun, a pistol kartoos, and a sack full of phensedyl from the spot. Police claimed, Jibonnagar police Assistant Sub-inspector (SI) Milon Hossain, constables— Walid Rahman, and Jewel Hossain were injured during the gunfight. They were taken to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital for primary treatment. Assistant superintendent of police (SP) Ahsan Habib said being tipped off about a phensedyl consignment at Utholi Shonnyashitala field, a special team of police went there for patrolling. Sensing the presence of police, drug peddlers opened fire to them at about 1:00am, police also fired back. The gun battle between drug dealers and police lef Jonab Ali bullet-hit and three police members injured. The injured were taken to Sadar Hospital, where Jonab Ali was declared dead. The Jibonnagar police Officer-in-charge (OC) Mahmudur Rahman said Jonab Ali was wanted in 11 cases filed with Jibonnagar, Damurhuda, and Chuadanga polices. In Narsingdi, another alleged drug peddler, Iman Ali, was killed a reported gunfight with RAB at Ghorashal. RAB also recovered arms, and drugs from the spot. The reported gunfight took place near toll plaza of Ghorashal at about 7:15am. RAB-11 Official Mohammad Alep Uddin said drug dealers opened fire to RAB when they conducted a raid to seized drug consignment from the spot. RAB also fired back which triggered a reported shootout between them and left two drug dealers bullet-hit and two RAB members injured. In Rajshahi, a man named Liakat Shikder was also killed in a reported gunfight with RAB at Puthia upazila in the early hours of Monday. RAB claimed Liakat was one of the top drug dealers of the area. He was a resident of the village of Namazgram under Banesshwar union of Puthia. Liakat was also the president of local ward Juba League. He was wanted in eight cases. RAB said being tipped off RAB members conducted an anti-narcotic drives at Belpukur of Puthia at about 12:15am. Sensing RAB’s presence, the drug dealers opened fire to them, RAB also fired back, which, at one stage, left Liakat Shikder bullet-hit. Later, he was taken to hospital where doctors declared him dead. RAB also claimed to have recovered Yaba, other drugs and arms from the spot. In Gazipur, suspected drug trader Rezaul Islam alias Besoti Rony, of Ershadnagar area of Tongi, and also an accused in 15 cases, was killed in a reported gunfight with police in Tongi around 3:00am. Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Tongi Model Police Station, said a team of police a conducted drive in the area following a tip-off. Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the drug traders opened fire on them, forcing them to retaliate, triggering the gunfight. Rony was caught in the line of fire and died on the spot.