Rajshahi: Five suspected militants, including a woman, and a firefighter were killed in 'suicide blasts' and gunshots fired by 'militants' as law enforcers raided a suspected militant hideout at Matikata in Godagari of Rajshahi on Thursday morning.

The firefighter was Abdul Matin, 45, while three of the 'militants' are house owner Sazzad Hossain, 50, his wife Beli Begum, 40, son Al Amin, 25.

During the raid, police rescued two children- Jubayer and Apiya - from the house, said Hibjur Alam Munshi, officer-in-charge (OC) of Godagari Police Station. They were now under the police custody.

He said the bodies will be recovered after a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team reaches here from the capital.

Meanwhile, the law enforcers kept the house cordoned off till filing of this report at 7:00pm.

Acting on a tip-off, Godagari police cordoned off the house early in the morning.

Sensing the law enforcers' presence, two militants came out of the house at 7:45am and detonated their explosives, leaving four people, including a woman, dead on the spot.

Two police personnel and a firefighter, Abdul Matin, suffered injuries during the operation at the suspected militant hideout, said Hibjur adding that Matin later succumbed to his wounds.

Earlier, the OC said, police requested the 'militants' to surrender but they did not respond. "Instead, they fired gunshots at the law enforcers," he said.

Sazzad Hossain, a cloth trader, built the house two months back in the middle of a field, and started living there along with his two sons and two daughters, said the OC.

Later, the local administration imposed section 144 in the area for security reasons.

Sazzad's two sons and his elder brother, Shoyeb, are local farmers, Hibjur mentioned.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Police announced to give Tk 10 lakh to the family of the slain firefighter, said Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam.

Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence will also provide Tk 8 lakh to Matin's family as the courageous firefighter died while on duty, said deputy director Nurul Islam of Rajshahi Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Besides, Fire Service and Civil Defence Director (operations) AKM Shaki Newaz gave Tk 10,000 personally to the deceased family and the department gave another Tk 10,000 for his burial.