Explosions, gunfire during raid on hotel in Dhaka's Panthapath

Gunfire and explosions have been heard from a hotel in Dhaka where law enforcement officials are conducting a raid.

The police counter-terror unit and SWAT cordoned off Hotel Olio International in Panthapath early Tuesday after they received information a militant was hiding inside, said Kalabagan Police Station Sub Inspector Sarwar Hossain, reports bdnews24.com.

Loud explosions and gunfire could be heard coming from the building at 9:45am. A wounded individual was carried away from the scene soon afterwards.

The victim had been attempting to withdraw money from an ATM machine, according to the Tejgaon Police Station OC Mazhar Hossain. A brickbat caught in the explosion struck him in the head, Hossain said.

Photos from the scene show that a portion of the hotel’s fourth floor wall has collapsed. SWAT officials were on the alert.

The Bangabandhu memorial building is only a short distance away from the Panthapath hotel. President Md Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, House Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and members of the cabinet have gone to the memorial to mark National Mourning Day, the anniversary of the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan spoke to the media about the Panthapath raid after paying his respects to Bangabandhu’s portrait at the house in Dhanmondi Road 32.

“Several law-enforcement agencies, including SWAT, have taken up positions on the scene. There may also be weaponry,” he said.

A Tejgaon police officer said that they received information a militant was hiding out in one of the rooms at the hotel. Police suspect they may have bombs and other weapons with them.