One 'militant' killed in Panthapath hotel raid

• 1 'militant' killed, cops say
• IGP Shahidul Haque briefed media
• Hotel Olio International cordoned off since morning
• Bomb disposal unit enters building
• Operation codenamed 'August Bite'

A suspected militant has been killed in an operation at a hotel in Dhaka’s Panthapath area where lawmen conducted a raid suspecting a militant hideout this morning.

Police identified the deceased as Saiful Islam, a student of Khulna BL College, Inspector General of Police Shahidul Haque said while briefing journalists on the spot.

Saiful possibly died by exploding his suicide vest, the IGP said adding that he was involved with Islami Chhatra Shibir politics.

Hailing from Dumuria upazila of Khulna, Saiful boarded the hotel two days back, he added.

Asked whether a pedestrian was injured in the operation, he said that the splinters from an explosion and falling parts of a collapsed wall could have injured the pedestrian and it was not major.

Our reporter on the spot said a pedestrian was injured in an explosion that rocked the area during the operation codenamed “August Bite”. Fire service officials were seen taking him out of the scene.

Police cordoned off Hotel Olio International around 4:00am, Samir Chandra Sutradhar, inspector (investigation) of Kalabagan Police Station, told The Daily Star.

Facebook LIVE: Overall situation

Around 8:45am, a portion of the hotel’s front wall broke off and fell on the road in a huge explosion, our staff correspondent reports from the spot.

Frequent sounds of gunfire were also heard from the spot around 9:50am, he said.

Photo: Prabir Das

While talking to media around 10:40am, Sanwar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of Dhaka police, said a bomb disposal unit has entered the hotel building near Square Hospitals.

A policeman walks on the cordoned off road at Panthapath on Dhaka after the August 15, 2017 raid at Hotel Olio International. Photo: Prabir Das

A bag was seen lying inside a room on the 3rd floor of Hotel Olio International which is now being inspected, the official said.

Members of Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) and detective branch (DB) of police were seen at the spot around 9:30am.