A man has been killed in a reported exchange of gunfire during a Coast Guard operation in the Sundarbans.
The overnight operation was carried out on Thursday in Khulna's Koyra Upazila.
The gunfight killed one person, identified as 60-year-old Shawkat Sardar
Koyra Police chief Shah Alam said it was not yet clear when he was killed or whose gunfire caused his death.
Local residents said they heard sustained gunfire and saw flames rising from deep inside the Sundarbans during the night.
They said more than 100 rounds were fired, prompting many people to leave their homes in fear.
Many believed the gunfire was the result of a clash between two forest bandit groups.
They later learnt of the Coast Guard operation after seeing members of the force on Friday morning.
'Dulabhai Bahini' Leader Injured
Several Coast Guard officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the operation left “Dulabhai Bahini” gang leader Rabiul Islam, 50, with gunshot wounds.
He was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital for treatment before being taken away again by Coast Guard personnel. The force has yet to issue an official statement on the operation.
Hospital records show Rabiul was admitted at 9:55am with gunshot wounds to his arm and other parts of his body.
Rabiul is the brother-in-law of the late forest bandit known only as Ilias.
After Ilias was killed, Rabiul formed the group in 2024, which locals came to refer to as the "Dulabhai Bahini", or “Brother-in-Law Gang”.
