Bagerhat: A suspected forest robber was killed in a gunfight between his cohorts and members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Sukhpara Char under Sundarbans east zone in Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat early on Thursday.

The deceased, Billal Mir alias Kana Billal, was a member of Samsu Bahini, a forest robber gang.

RAB officials said a team of RAB‐8 of Barisal conducted a drive in the area to arrest robbers in the early hours on Thursday.

Sensing the presence of the elite force, the robbers opened fire on them, prompting them to retaliate, triggering the gunfight.

Billal caught in the line of fire and died on the spot while the others managed to flee the scene.

The RAB troops recovered Billal’s body and sent it to local hospital morgue for autopsy.

Five firearms and 77 bullets were recovered from the spot, said RAB.