Moulvibazar: The ‘Operation Maximus’ launched by members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) at a suspected militant den at Borohat in municipality area was postponed on Friday evening as darkness fell.

Briefing reporters near the militant hideout at about 7:00pm, chief of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Monirul Islam said the drive will resume on Saturday morning.

“It’s taking more time to end the drive as the ‘Operation Maximus’ is a difficult one. There’re several rooms in the building and huge explosives lying scattered,” he said.

The CTTC chief also said they spotted the presence of more than one militant inside the den.

Earlier in the day, the SWAT members started the operation codenamed ‘Operation Maximus’ around 9:53 am at the suspected militant den.

Witnesses said sounds of sporadic gunshots were heard from the scene at about 12:40pm while sounds of two explosions were heard at about 12:50pm.

The SWAT team fired at the building at about 4:30pm.

Later, sounds of two bomb explosions inside the den were heard at about 4:33pm and 5:07pm.

Meanwhile, constable Kawser sustained injuries in a blast during the operation.

Earlier in the morning, the CTTC chief and also DMP additional commissioner Monirul Islam said, “We have been suspecting presence of an explosive expert of the militant group in the building. However, we couldn’t yet ascertain the number of militants in the house.”

The law enforcers have kept the den cordoned off since early Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the local administration banned public gathering in Borohat area to avoid any kind of casualties.

The announcement was made by the police through a loudspeaker in the morning and the order will be remain in force until further notice, said a member of CTTC unit, wishing anonymity.

Earlier, on Thursday, the law enforcers found the limbs of seven bodies, scattered at Nasirpur den in Sadar upazila after the operation ‘Hitback’, carried out by CTTC unit.

Police suspected that all of them were killed in suicide blasts on Wednesday.