Dhaka, June 26 -- A man has been killed in a reported exchange of gunfire during a Coast Guard operation in the Sundarbans.

The overnight operation was carried out on Thursday in Khulna's Koyra Upazila.

The gunfight killed one person, identified as 60-year-old Shawkat Sardar

Koyra Police chief Shah Alam said it was not yet clear when he was killed or whose gunfire caused his death.

Local residents said they heard sustained gunfire and saw flames rising from deep inside the Sundarbans during the night.

They said more than 100 rounds were fired, prompting many people to leave their homes in fear.

Many believed the gunfire was the result of a clash between two forest bandit groups.

They later learnt of the Coast Guard operation after ...