Crossfire or shootout?
M. M. Haque London
We again came across the story "Two top outlaws killed in 'crossfire' with Rab" as reported by your Rajshahi correspondent. The story indicated that two leaders of the outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) were killed in an encounter with the members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab). When they reached the village, the accomplices of the PBCP leaders opened fire on the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate. Rab sources said Fazal and Muktar sustained bullet wounds during the "shootout". They were taken to Naogaon Hospital where the doctors declared them dead." First, this was not a "crossfire". This was a shootout or a gunfight. A "crossfire" is when lines of fire from two or more positions cross each other at a single point, such as soldiers or outlaws caught in crossfire. It's about time we used the correct words. Either the outlaws were in the middle of two Rapid Action Battalions groups shooting at them, or they were in a shootout or gunfight. Second: the "outlaws" did not 'receive' bullets during the shootout. They weren't given bullets, presented bullets, or anything like that. They were shot. It's time the press started using the correct words and terms.
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