The dead was identified as Lance Naik Piar Mohammad, 47, son of Hanif Munshi of village Kaunia in Faridganj of Chandpur district.

Official and local sources said the injured smuggler, Rabiul Islam, 32, was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition.

The clash erupted when BDR patrols challenged some armed smugglers, who were carrying illegal goods from India, at around 3:00am The smugglers opened fired on the BDR personnel of Baraachra Shalban check-post in Benapole area. The BDR men retaliated, leading to a gunfight between the two sides

Piar Mohammad was shot during the encounter. He was taken to the nearby hospital where the attending doctors declared him dead.

The gunfight over, BDR men recovered playing cards and medicines from the scene.

After the filing of a case, Benapole police arrested two alleged smugglers--Dulal and Pappu--from village Chhotoachra.

Meanwhile, high officials, including the Khulna sector commander of BDR, visited the spot.

Border forces on both sides of the frontier have been put on alert.