Jashore: Three suspected drug traders were killed in a reported gunfight with members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Paira-Noapara road in Abhaynagar Upazila early Saturday.

The deceased are Abul Kalam, 48, son of Kader Ali Morol, Habibur Rahman, 38, son of Abdul Barik Sheikh and Milon Kashari, 40, son of Sattar Kashari of Noapara village.

A team of RAB set up a checkpost on the road around 9pm on Friday, said company commander Zahid of RAB-6.

He said the RAB team signaled a motorcycle as three ‘drug traders’ were passing by the checkpost in the bike around 2am.

Ignoring the signal, Zahid said, they tried to speed away.

When the elite force tried to catch them, the bikers opened fire on them, prompting them to retaliate that triggered the gunfight.

After the gunfight, they found the trio injured with bullets on the spot, Zahid added.

Later, the injured were taken to Abhaynagar Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared them dead around 7am.

The RAB team recovered two pistols, one magazine with five bullets, 400 bottles of Phensidyl and a Chinese axe from the spot.

Goni Miah, officer-in-charge of Abhaynagar Police Station, said the Rab members handed over the unidentified bodies to their police station.

He said two Rab members were also injured in the gunfight.

Further details about the deceased could not be known immediately.