The militants at Atia Mahal were expert bomb makers and the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) found in the Sylhet den were all homemade, investigators have said.

A family from Bandarban is en route to Sylhet to trace whether their “missing daughter” is the dead female militant who was killed in “Operation Twilight” at Atia Mahal.

Two more militants were killed in the army-led operation at Atia Mahal in Sylhet city with the four-day siege to the terrorist hideout drawing to an end yesterday.

Police have filed a case over the incident of two powerful explosions that killed six people near a militant den in Sylhet's Shibbari area on Saturday.

Bangladesh Army has neutralised four militants including a woman at Atia Mahal, the centre of all attention where “Operation Twilight” is still underway, Brig General Mohammad Fakhrul Ahsan tells journalists at a press briefing in Shibbari of Sylhet.

Police inspector Monirul Islam left for his workplace in Sylhet on Saturday morning after attending a family function at his village home in Noakhali.

Two militants were killed during the army-led operation inside the terror den at Atia Mahal in Sylhet yesterday, as the raid to take on the terrorists holed up there entered its third day, making it one of the longest anti-terror operations. However, the operation codenamed “Operation Twilight” was far from over as more militants were believed to be still inside the five-storey apartment.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan voices suspicion that top militant leader might be inside Atia Mahal, where the army is carrying out “Operation Twilight”.

Bangladesh Army claims to have killed at least two militants in “Operation Twilight” in the follow up to Sylhet raid, which has been going on for over 50 hours since Friday. While it is still unclear as to when the raid will end, the army has confirmed use of heavy artillery to subdue the militants.

Another person succumbs to his injuries, raising the death toll from the two powerful bomb blasts near a militant den in Sylhet to six. Two powerful bombs went off at separate places near the militant den in Shibbari area, killing five people including two policemen, and injuring 40 others, even as joint forces were raiding the hideout for a second straight day yesterday.

“Pray for me and my family,” these are the words of Piyali Chowdhury, who is now trapped inside “Atia Villa”, tells her colleague over phone.

Urging the law enforcers to free his tenants first, the owner of “Atia Mahal” says he has no objection if his building is damaged for securing safe passage for the trapped people.

Three including a cop are killed and six law enforcers among 31 hurt in separate blasts outside Sylhet militant den where joint operation is underway.