Bangladesh: Three militants killed near PM office in Dhaka Jan. 12

Event

Three people were killed on the morning of Friday, January 12 (local time), during a raid launched by an anti-crime elite force on a suspected militant hideout a few hundred meters from the Prime Minister's office in the capital Dhaka. The militants opened fire and hurled grenades at the security forces during the assault. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in the house following the fighting. It is unclear whether PM Sheikh Hasina was in her office during the raid.

Context

Bangladeshi security forces have conducted a series of large-scale operations against militants in the wake of a deadly attacked carried out in a café on July 1, 2016. Neo-JMB, an offshoot of the banned militant outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), has been blamed for an attack in Dhaka on the Holey Artisan Bakery, in which 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, were killed. According to various Western intelligence assessments, terrorists are likely to try to carry out further attacks in Bangladesh, with the threat extending across the country; the risk is highest in crowded areas and places where foreign nationals tend to gather

Advice

Individuals present in this volatile South Asian country are advised to minimize their exposure to these areas, consider their movements carefully, and follow any specific advice issued by local security authorities.