Operation Eagle Hunt resumes, fresh gunshots heard

Law enforcers cordoned off a suspected militant hideout in Shibnagar village under Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj district on Wednesday.

9:10am (Thursday): Fresh gunshots heard as Operation Eagle Hunt resumes.

Key points from the press briefing on Wednesday: April 26, 2017

-Deputy Commissioner Proloy Kumar Joarder says that Operation Eagle Hunt has been suspended due to low visibility.

-The operation is set to resume tomorrow morning.

-The number of militants is still unknown.

-The militants threw grenades and shot at law enforcement officials whenever they attempted to approach the building.

9:00pm-DC Proloy Kumar Joarder briefs media.

8:45pm- Our correspondent Azahar Uddin informs that Operation Eagle Hunt has been suspended for the day. Law enforcement officials will hold a press briefing shortly.

8:11pm- CTTC sources say that the house was rented under Abu Ali’s name for him and his wife. They suspect about 5 militants may be inside the building.

7:44pm- The operation has been code-named “Eagle Hunt”, confirms Deputy Commissioner Proloy Kumar Joarder.

6:40pm- More gunfire and explosions heard from the militant den.

5:30pm- SWAT begins raid at the militant den. Gunfire and explosions heard from the militant den.

5:00pm- Militant Abu Ali’s family attempts to get him to surrender peacefully.

4:50pm- SWAT arrives at the suspected militant den. Preparations for the raid underway. Rajshahi DIG Khurshid Hussain present on the scene.

2:54pm- CTTC Assistant Commissioner Towhid Hossain says: “We are assuming that militant Abu Ali and his wife is inside the hideout.”

2:13pm- CTTC sources say the drive will start once Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team arrives on the spot.

1:39pm- Gunshots heard, reports our correspondent Md Anwar Hossain Choudhury from the spot.

11:07am- A CTTC high official says four to five militants are inside the building.

10:52am- The one-storey building which is cordoned off by the law enforcers is owned by Afsar Ali Juitha, reports our correspondent Md Anwar Hossain Choudhury from the spot.

10:08am- A CTTC source says local administration imposed Section 144 in the area.

9:40am- Deputy Commissioner Mohibul Islam says: “We are not sure about the number of militants inside the building but New JMB militants might be inside it.

“We are trying to cajole them into surrendering.”

New JMB is a faction of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, and is affiliated with the Islamic State group.

9:20am- Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit Deputy Commissioner Mohibul Islam says: “Gunshots were fired targeting us from the den.”

9am- Shibganj police station Officer-in-Charge Habibul Islam says: “Counter-Terrorism officials arrived here from Dhaka and sought our help to raid the hideout.”

8:22am- (Wednesday): Chapainawabganj Superintendent of Police TA Mojahiudul Islam tells  “Counter-Terrorism unit has cordoned off a building in Shibnagar village since 5:30am.”

The Police Headquarters recently circulated a list of nearly 5,000 suspected militants to all district police chiefs. Since then, the law enforcers have been carrying out special drives in different areas to apprehend the militants.

Source: dhakatribune