Dhaka: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) claim around seven people are staying at the six-storey building, which has been cordoned off by the members of RAB suspecting as militants’hideout since early hours of Tuesday, at Darus Salam in Mirpur.

RAB Director General Benjir Ahmed told the journalist at about 11:00am on Tuesday, a militant named Abdullah rented the house and used it as a militant den. Around seven suspected militants are hiding there.

RAB call the militants to surrender before them.

However, the RAB chief said, RAB’s priority is to evacuate the building safely. The law enforcers are taking time to start final drive as they are trying to shift the residents of the building to a safer place.

RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed said militant Abdullah got involved in militancy in 2005 and he had been carrying out his activities under the cover of his business of IPS, UPS, fridges and refrigerators. He deposited huge acid, petroleum and explosives, said the Rab DG.

Benazir Ahmed said that RAB members are trying to communicate with Abdullah, who is possessing improvised explosive device (IED), from 4 am. His two wives, two children and two associates are also staying with him.

‘We are also trying to arrest Abdullah along with his family members without any causality. We have requested him several times to surrender. He sought time for taking decision,’ added Rab DG.

Sixty six people, including 24 women and 15 children, have been evacuated from the building.

Besides, Abdullah’s mentally challenged sister Meherunnesa came out of the house.

UNB quoting Intelligence sources said that Abdullah’s two children were Omar, 10 and two and half year old Osama.

The local people said RAB officials have been conducting the drive at the building, named Komolprobha. The owner of the building is Mohmmad Azad, a T&T official. Azad, along with his wife, a son and a daughter, lives at the second floor of the building.

Hafizur Rahman, resident of the area, told NTV Online, a 35-year-old man, Mohammad Abdullah, who is a businessman, lives in the house. He has a factory of IPS and UPS at the roof top of the building. At first, he used to live at the ground floor of the building. Later, he rented the roof of the building. He has two wives and has been living in the house for last 15 years. He is known in the area as a pious person.

RAB media wing Director Mufti Mahmud said two suspected militants were detained during a drive at a house in Tangail on Monday night. We have information that one of the Tangail militant team was staying at Darus Salam.

The RAB officials sealed off the building at Darus Salam after Tuesday midnight. The suspected militants hurled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) grenade and fire bombs to the RAB from the fifth floor of the building. RAB also opened infrequent firing to the suspected militants.

The RAB official said we have called the militants to surrender before us. However, Mufti Mahmud could not confirm the number of suspected militants staying at the building. He said, the law enforcers are preparing for final drive.