Sylhet, Mar 26 (UNB) – Two ‘militants’ have so far been killed as the operation, ‘Twilight’, at the suspected militant hideout at Shibbari in Dakkhin Surma upazila continues.
“We’re certain that at least two militants were killed,” said Brig Gen Fakhrul Ahsan, spokesperson of the operation, while briefing reporters at a place adjacent to the den on Sunday afternoon.
He also said more militants wearing suicidal vests are still alive inside the building, Atia Mahal.
The army official said it will take more time to end the operation as the militants inside the building are well-equipped with arms, explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). “The entire area has turned risky. Considering the overall situation, it’ll take more time to end the standoff.”
He continued: “The para commandos will continue the operation until they take control of the house.”
Brig Gen Fakhrul said they are heading slowly and cautiously taking into consideration the safety and security of their personnel. “Our primary objective was to evacuate the residents which we did successfully.”
He said no army member has so far been injured in the operation.
Earlier, sounds of big explosions and sporadic gunshots were heard from the militant den from Sunday morning amid joint forces’ operation that began on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, the local administration imposed section 144 in the areas around Shibbari while security was beefed up in the city.
Army personnel rescued Josna Rani, an elderly woman, from a nearby building of Atia Mahal around 11am. Later, she was admitted to a hospital as she was ill.
Earlier, a police officer and a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra league (BCL), who were injured in bomb blasts in front of Gotatikor Madrasah adjacent to the militant den, succumbed to their injuries on Sunday, raising the death toll from the blasts to six.
Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Jalalabad Police Station, and Fahim Ahmed Mahdi, a resident of Kuchai area of the upazila and deputy secretary (environment affairs) of Dakkhin Surma upazila BCL unit, died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, said Jalalabad thana OC Akther Hossain.
On the other hand, the 1st namaj-e-janaza of the two police officials — OC Monirul and Sylhet court inspector Abu Kawsar — was held at the field of Sylhet Police Lines at 2pm, said Akhter.
On Saturday evening, four people, including a policeman and an activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), were killed and 40 people injured in two bomb blasts near the militant hideout.
Besides, two injured officers of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were referred to Dhaka Combined Military Hospital (CMH) due to their critical condition.
The injured are Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad, commanding officer of intelligence wing of Rab headquarters, and deputy commanding officer Major Azad.
Besides, the authorities of OMCH cancelled the vacation of all staff of the hospital following the incident.
Jedan Al Musa, Additional Deputy Police Commissioner (media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP), said two people carrying bombs came to the spot riding a motorcycle and hurled those around 6:45 pm on Saturday when one of the bombs went off, leaving BCL activist Atiq Rahman Apu, 20, dead on the spot and 17 people, including Fahim, injured, while another bomb remained unexploded.
Minutes later, the unexploded bomb went off when police picked it up to diffuse, leaving Sylhet court inspector Abu Kawsar dead on the spot and Monirul and OC Shah Harun-or-Rashid of Dakkhin Surma Police Station seriously injured.
Police recovered a motorcycle from the spot, Musa added.
Besides, Shiblu Malakar, 27, son of Basanta Malakar of the area, suffered bullet wounds as he was watching the drive from a temple adjacent to Atia Mahal.
Amid explosions and gunshots the members of joint forces, led by army Para Commandos stormed the militants’ den on Saturday afternoon and rescued 78 members of 28 families trapped in the building.
After about a 30-hour siege to the ‘militants’ den’ by joint forces , a team of Para Commando Battalion of Bangladesh Army, led by GOC Major General Anwarul Momen, launched the operation, ‘Twilight’, around 9 am on Saturday.
