Cox’ Bazar: A woman, said to be a Myanmarese, was killed and four others were injured in a reported gunfight between members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and a group of suspected drug peddlers at Badarmokam in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar early on Thursday.

The deceased is Zaheda Begum, in her twenties, a resident of Maungdaw in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

Ashrafuzzaman, officer‐in‐charge of Teknaf Police Station (investigation), said a BGB patrol team challenged a boat near Shah Parir Dwip around 5:30am while it was heading towards Myanmar through River Naf with some suspected drug peddlers.

Sensing the BGB’s presence, the ‘drug peddlers’ opened fire on the Bangladesh border guards, prompting them to retaliate, which triggered a gunfight.

At one stage, Zaheda died on the spot while three other people, including the boatman, suffered bullet wounds, he said.

The injured—Myanmar citizens Rahida Begum, Nazma Begum, Abul Kashem, and boatman Shafiq Ahmed, of Shah Parir Dwip — were taken to Teknaf Upazila Helath Complex around 9:30am.

An investigation into the incident has been launched, the OC said.