At least two suspected militants killed during Jhenaidah anti-terror raid

At least two terror suspects have been killed, one possibly in a suicide blast, as police in Jhenaidah started raiding a 'militant hideout.'

Jhenaidah police chief Mizanur Rahman said bombs were hurled from the house after police tried to move into it early on Sunday.

An officer of the local police and a counter-terrorism officer were injured when the bombs exploded.

The house in Maheshpur Upazila's Bajrapur village was sealed off late on Saturday after intelligence indicated it was used by Islamist radicals, said Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahman.

The raid began after counter-terrorism personnel from Dhaka arrived early in the morning.

Amid heavy firing, bombs were lobbed at law enforcers from inside, said SP Rahman. "There is a bullet-hit body just outside the house. We suspect another died inside in a suicide blast." 

Police have arrested the landlord Jahurul Islam, his son 'Jasim' and two others, identified as 'Alam' and 'Arif' from the neighbourhood.

Counter-terrorism unit's Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Nazmul Islam and Jhenaidah police's Sub Inspector Mahsin Ali have been hospitalised in Jessore with wounds sustained in the bombings.

The local administration imposed Section 144 restricting movement of vehicles and pedestrians in the area and cautioned residents using loudspeakers.

Fire trucks and ambulances have been kept on stand by and the media has not been allowed to go near the scene.
 
Meanwhile, police have cordoned-off another suspected terror den on the outskirts of Jhenaidah town.

The house, owned by one 'Sharafat' at Lebutala area, has been sealed off since Saturday night.

Counter-terrorism unit's ADC Saiful Islam said they have information about explosives being stored inside the house.

An officer with the Jhenaidah Sadar police said the counter-terrorism unit's raid began after receiving intelligence about the Lebutala ‘militant den’.

Later on they received information on the Moheshpur terror hideout and began the raid there. 
 
"We have surrounded the house. Will move in once the bomb disposal unit arrives," said Jhenaidah Sadar Police Harendanath Sarkar.

On the third week of April, police raided another house at a village near the district town.

No one was found in the house of Muslim convert 'Abdullah', but police said they found a huge amount of explosives and bomb-making materials there.
 
A week later, police raided another militant hideout in Chapainawabganj, when four terror suspects were killed in suicide blasts, officials said.
 
Police and counter-terrorism personnel have been confronted with such suicide explosions in Sylhet, Moulavibazar and many other places in the country, during raids on hideouts of the neo-JMB this year.