Dhaka: Two suspected drug traders were killed in ‘gunfights’ with police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Tangail and Bogura districts early Friday.

In Tangail, Afzal, 35, a suspected drug peddler, was killed in a reported gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members at Beguntal in Sadar upazila early Friday, reports the UNB.

Tipped off that a group of drug traders gathered in the area, a team of RAB-12 conducted a drive in the area around 2 am, said commanding officer of RAB-12 RABiul Islam.

Sensing presence of the elite force, the criminals opened fire on them that forced the RAB members to fire back in self-defence.

At one stage, RAB members recovered the bullet-hit body of Afzal, a top listed drug trader, from the spot, he said.

They also recovered one pistol, five bullets, 1042 pieces of Yaba pills and 200 bottles of Phensidyl from the scene.

Afzal was wanted in a number of cases, RAB officials said.

In Bogura, Pitu Sarkar, 25, a ‘drug trader’ and son of Majibur Rahman of Charsutrapur in Sadar upazila, was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Bhatkandi Bridge in Shahjahanpur upazila around 3 am.

Additional Superintendent of Bogura Police Sanatan Chakrawarty (media) of the district, said on information that two groups of drug traders were taking position in the area, a team of police went to the spot .

At one stage, the criminals opened fire on them forcing police to take action, triggering a gunfight.

Later, police recovered the body of Pitu Sarkar. They also recovered 500 pieces of Yaba tablets, one shutter gun, and eight bullets from the spot.

He was wanted in six drug related cases, said police.

With the latest deaths, at least 135 people were killed in ‘gunfights’ with members of law enforcement agencies while 37 bodies of suspected drug traders were recovered after reported gun battles between rival groups during the countrywide anti-narcotic drives since 15 May.