Khulna: Fifty-three suspected drug peddlers were killed in reported encounters with law enforcers in the Khulna division alone since the government launched a war on drugs in mid-May.

Sources say the figure shows the causalities until November 29. A good number of law enforcement officials were also injured in the so-called gunfights. Those killed were said to have been prominent drug peddlers in their respective areas, reports the UNB.

Officials at the Department of Narcotics Control said they were continuing their anti-drugs drives.

Md Rasheduzzaman, deputy director at DNC’s Khulna office, said their officials sometimes are attacked by drug peddlers during anti-narcotics drives.

‘Drug dealers are using firearms. So, it’s natural that we’ll be apprehensive when conducting drives,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the DNC sent a new list of drug peddlers of 10 districts of the division to the ministry, said Parveen Akhter, an inspector of its detective branch.

The list reportedly contains the names of 50 people who are running the drug business in Khulna division. ‘Apart from them, there’re many small drug dealers. Some are being arrested but at the same time, many others are getting involved in the trade,’ she said.