BANGLADESH

At least six suspected muggers were killed and two others injured in a 'gunfight' with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Narsinghdi Sadar Upazila on Monday, an official of the elite force said.

"The gunfight took place around 2:30 in the afternoon in an area adjacent to bridge number 5 in Narsinghdi," RAB-11 Narsinghdi commanding officer (CO) lieutenant colonel Abu Hena Mostofa told .

He said a businessman had informed them that a group of muggers, riding a microbus, robbed him of Tk 40,000. "We immediately threw up a barricade on the road near bridge number 5," he said.

"When the muggers with the microbus came close to the Bridge area, they opened fire. RAB members also fired back," the officer claimed.

According to him, the firefight lasted for around half an hour.

Six of the muggers died on the spot and two others were injured, Lt Col Mostofa said but he could not immediately confirm their identity.

Two RAB members were also injured in the 'gunfight', he added.