AN Islamist militant was killed in a blast during a raid on a hotel in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka yesterday, writes Siam Sarower Jamil.

Police said that, acting on a tip-off, counter-terrorism officers had cordoned off the Hotel Olio International just after 4am. Gunfire and explosions were heard from the hotel at about 9.45am.

Speaking at the scene, unit leader Monirul Islam identified the dead man as Saiful Islam, a student at Khulna College.