Security forces found seven human bodies inside a 'hideout' at Mirpur area in Dhaka on Wednesday.
“We found the skulls of militant Abdullah, his two wives, two children and two associates as their bodies were burned to ashes,” Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Benazir Ahmed said while talking to reporters at the spot, reports UNB.
Mentioning that the RAB men also recovered several bones from the spot, he said the identities of the deceased can be confirmed after DNA test.
The RAB chief also said the explosives, which went off on Tuesday night, had been made of acid, petrol and chemicals and these completely destroyed the 3rd and 4th floors of the building.
The law enforcers could not stay on the spot for long as the temperature there was still 55-60 degree Celsius, he said.
“We tried to rescue the innocent women and children alive but failed as Abdullah himself detonated the explosives killing his family members and accomplices,” he said.
Abdullah joined Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in 2005 and later joined Neo JMB’s Sarwar-Tamim group in 2012. He provided shelter and financial help to the top leaders of Neo JMB, Benazir added.
Earlier in the morning, the law enforcers resumed their operation around 9:30 am at the militant den after overnight massive explosions and exchange of gunfire, Mufti Mahmud Khan, RAB Director (Legal and Media), said.
A fire broke out in the hideout after the militants commenced a daring counterattack of bomb explosions and gunfire against the law enforcers on Tuesday night.
The militants carried out three massive explosions inside the building around 9:45pm followed by three more blasts which led to a fire, leaving four RAB men injured with splinters.
Earlier, suspected militant Abdullah, son of late Mir Yusuf Ali of Chuadanga district, agreed to surrender along with his two wives, two children and two associates.
His mentally challenged sister Meherunnesa came out of the house.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque visited the spot in the morning.
Tipped off, a RAB team cordoned off the six-storey building on the south side of Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard at 12 am on Tuesday.
Earlier, police arrested two suspected militants conducting a drive in Tangail district and got information about Abdullah from the arrestees.