Dhaka  - Bangladesh's elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion Tuesday captured two suspected militants after a clash in central Comilla district, officials said.

The battalion officials said the criminals hurled a homemade grenade at them when the lawmen raided the den in Debidwar Upazila, some 63 kilometres east of the capital Dhaka, injuring one battalion member. The force retaliated with gunfire wounding several of the militants.

The incident prompted instant protests in Dhaka as rumours run that the motorcade of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who conducted electioneering in the areas for December 29 polls, came under attack.

Zia, also chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, had left the area an hour before the incident.

Following warnings from the interim administration that the militants are out to vitiate the election atmosphere in several areas after the lifting of the state of emergency, the law enforcers captured as many as 15 suspected Islamist militants and seized explosives from their possessions. (dpa)