B’desh: Op Eagle Hunt resumes, fresh gunshots heard

by Md Anwar Hossain Choudhury & Arifur Rahman Rabbi in Dhaka Tribune online, April 27, 2017
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, reports our correspondent Md Anwar Hossain Choudhury from the spot.
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 the Dhaka Tribune: “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.http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/crime/2017/04/26/suspected-militant-hideout-cordoned-off-chapainawabganj/