Two alleged drug dealers were killed in “shootouts” between Rapid Action Battalion and suspects in Kushtia and Narayanganj early yesterday.

In Kushtia, alleged criminal Hamidul Islam, 47, was killed in a “gunfight” with Rab in Milpara area of town, Mohaiminur Rashid, commander of Rab-12, told our Kushtia Correspondent.

He was the top leader of Hamidul-Rashul Bahini and wanted by Kushtia police, Rab said.

Mohaiminur said a Rab team raided the Milpara area around 4:00am on information that a group of drug dealers were holding a meeting there. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire forcing them to retaliate, which resulted in a “gun battle”, the Rab official said.

At one stage, the suspects fled the scene. Rab found a body. It was later identified as Hamidul. Two pistols, 12 bullets and a few sharp weapons were recovered from the spot.

Hamidul was accused in a dozen  cases, including murder and narcotics. His brother Rashidul was killed in a “gunfight” with Rab men in 2007. In 2004, Hamidul-Rashul Bahini was involved in a gunfight with a joint-force team that left five, including a border guard, dead.

His family members declined to comment about his death but one of his sons said Hamidul had been “missing” for several months.

Rikhon Hossain, 36, of Meherpur was killed in a “gunfight” in Narayanganj.

Lt Col Kamrul Hasan, commanding officer of Rab-11, said around 4:30am following a tip-off, Rab set up two checkpoints at Siddhirganj on Dhaka-Chittagong highway to seize a consignment of yaba pills arriving from Chittagong on a truck.

As Rab intercepted the truck, three people got out of the truck and one started firing at Rab. Rab “retaliated, resulting in a gunfight that lasted for seven minutes”, Kamrul told our Narayanganj correspondent.

Rikhon was found injured. He was taken to Narayanganj General Hospital where he was declared dead. The others fled.

Rab claimed to have recovered a pistol and 10,000 yaba pills from the truck.

Kamrul said Rab personnel Robiul had bullet injuries.

At least 73 people have been killed in incidents of “shootout” and “gunfight” with law enforcers so far this year, according to rights body Ain o Salish Kendra.