The raid on the house near Meradia Bazar in Khilgaon took place after the arrest of the JMB chief's son-in-law Abdul Awal in Thakurgaon on Friday.

Squeezing information on Rahman's whereabouts out of Awal, a Rab team acted quickly and encircled the house sometime in the night.

Finding the gate locked, the elite force stormed the house but did not find anyone inside.

"There were signs that the JMB chief did not escape long ago. Someone was there moments before we broke in," said a Rab officer.

The owner of the house has identified Rahman's photograph and confirmed he was there.

"Abdul Awal and his wife used to visit the house," said a highly-placed Rab source.

Awal alias Ashique, JMB in-charge for the August 17 blasts in Rajshahi region, is one of the seven-member Majlish-e-Sura, top tier of the banned outfit that supervised the countrywide bombings on August 17.

The Rab men recovered some bomb-making materials including circuits and Islamic magazines from the house.

Intelligence officials believe Rahman is still in the capital.

The Rab raided four to five spots in Banasree, Basabo and Badda to arrest the militant kingpin, who ordered his followers to launch a countrywide attack on the judiciary and democratic institutions 'to oppose human-made laws and establish Islamic rules'.

"In fact, we raided the house to check Awal's information," the Rab source told The Daily Star last night.

Earlier on September 11, the government announced a bounty for information leading to arrest of Rahman and his close associate Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, operations commander of banned Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh.

A bounty of Tk 50 lakh will be awarded for each of the militant leaders' arrest.

The government has also circulated posters with 10 separate photographs -- five in different looks of each of the two militant leaders -- and contact phone and fax numbers and email addresses.