2 RAB Man Killed While Chasing Drug-Laden Pickup

Two members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were killed in a road accident on the Magura-Jhenidah highway early Friday while chasing a pickup van suspected to be transporting illegal drugs, police said.

The pickup van driver also died from the impact of the crash, reports UNB.

The dead were identified as Corporal Anisur Rahman, 38, and Constable Faruq Hossain, 38, of Rab, officer-in-charge of Magura Police Station, said. "However, the pickup van driver's identity could not immediately be confirmed."

Another Rab member Nazmul Hossain who was injured in the accident was taken to a Dhaka hospital.

The accident occurred around 4:30 am when a Rab patrol car crashed with the pickup van in the Rautara area of Magura Sadar Upazila, leaving three people dead at the scene.

Earlier, Rab set up a check-post on the Magura-Jhenidah highway after being tipped off about a pickup van transporting illegal drugs.

"Spotting the vehicle, Rab members signaled it to stop. But the pickup van driver accelerated towards Magura. Then a Rab car chased it. As the Rab car sped past the pickup van and tried to stop it, the vehicles collided," the OC said.

Two separate cases have been filed with police over the crash, he added.