In a reported battle that took place this morning in the Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazar between Border Guard Bangladesh members and drug dealers, a suspected drug dealer was shot dead, according to BGB.

Nezam Uddin of the Khurushkul region under the Sadar upazila of Cox's Bazar was identified as the deceased.

Around five in the morning, the incident happened in the Garjania Union's Maricha neighborhood, according to a statement from BGB Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam.

The incident took place in the Maricha area of Garjania union around 5:00am, said BGB Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam, in a statement.

Around 150-200 smugglers, led by Robber Nezam, attacked a BGB patrol team of Naikhongchhari 11 battalion. They fired around 50-60 bullets and set BGB motorcycles on fire, the statement read.

BGB troops opened fire in self-defence and dispersed the smugglers, it added.

At least 98 cartons of Burmese cigarettes and 20,000 yaba pills were recovered from the spot, it added.

During the reported shootout a smuggler was injured. After the incident, some locals took Nezam's body to his house in Khurushkul.

Later Sadar police took the body to Cox's Bazar General Hospital for autopsy, the statement said.

The victim's father Bashir Uddin said Nezam went to the area for three days to visit a friend's house. But today they came to know that his son was shot dead, he added.

Despite repeated attempts, Lt Col Shahol Ahmed Nobel, commanding officer (CO) of BGB-11 battalion, did not receive the phone for comments.

Locals said Nezam was involved in cattle smuggling and yaba trading. He walked out of jail six months ago in a murder case, the release said.