Dhaka: Amid the killings of alleged drug traders in reported gunfights across the country, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday reiterated that law enforcers were forced to use firearms in self-defence.

‘High-profile drug peddlers either fled or engaged in gunfights with law enforcers whenever they went to arrest them on the basis of intelligence information. Under such circumstances, the law enforcers do what they should do,’ he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.

The minister said a number of drug traders were killed in the last few days and all of them had modern firearms in their possession. ‘The killings took place as they tried to use the arms against the law enforcers.’

Mentioning that they do not want to resort to gunfight with anyone, he said the law enforcers are taking action against those open fire on them.

Apart from the killings, over 2,000 people were arrested in drives in the last 7-8 days across the country, Asaduzzaman said.

Replying to a query about MP Abdur Rahman Bodi, he said, ‘Those involved in the drug trade will be brought to book. We’re trying to collect more information about Bodi and action will be taken against him after receiving proper information.’

Responding to another query whether only those who carry drugs are being killed in gunfights, the Home Minister said they were trying to arrest the real drug peddlers based on intelligence information. ‘We won’t spare anyone, no matter whether he is an MP, government official, member of security force and journalist,’ he said.

Asaduzzaman said they were forced to conduct the anti-narcotics drives in the country as neighbouring countries did not take any effective measures to check the drug smuggling across the borders.