REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DHAKA -- Militants on Thursday attacked Bangladeshi police guarding the country's biggest festival marking the end of Ramadan, killing three people and wounding 14, days after Islamic State claimed a major attack in the capital and warned of more violence.

At least five militants launched an assault on police in Kishoreganj town, about 140 km (90 miles) from the capital, Dhaka, with small bombs before setting upon them with "sharp weapons", said chief district administrator, Mohammad Azimuddin Biswas.

Up to 300,000 people had gathered for a prayer service to mark the Eid al-Fitr festival in the town at the time of the violence, nearly a week after militants killed 20 people in an attack on a cafe in Dhaka claimed by Islamic State.

One policeman was killed in a blast and another was stabbed to death. A woman was also killed. Six policemen were in critical condition and had been flown to hospital in Dhaka, said Syed Abu Sayem, assistant police superintendent of Kishoreganj.

Officials initially said two attackers were killed and three arrested, but there was confusion later about whether one of the three reported dead might have survived and be in hospital.

There was no claim of responsibility and officials said it was not clear what group the attackers belonged to.

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