A criminal suspect took a woman hostage and escaped from the industrial area of Ashulia today after a gunfight between police and his gang, police claimed.

No casualties were reported.

Police said the main suspect, identified as “Shooter Bappi,” fled from Chowdhury Plaza in Ashulia’s Jamgara Chourasta area while holding the woman hostage.

Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Tarikul Islam told The Daily Star that police launched the raid around 11:30am after receiving information that Bappi and several of his associates were inside the building.

"When police reached the building, an exchange of gunfire took place between the police and the suspects," the OC said.

He alleged that at about 12:00pm, the suspect escaped from the building after taking a woman hostage.

"We did not open fire or attempt to apprehend him at that moment because doing so could have put the woman's life at risk," the OC said.

As of 3:00pm, police had cordoned off the building and the operation was continuing, he added.