A predawn search for former Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain ended in failure, authorities said Tuesday. 

On information that he was hiding in a house police and upazila administration conducted an hour-long drive at Shibpur village of Mujibnagar.

The operation, lasting from 3am to 4am, was led by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Mujibnagar, Khairul Islam, along with Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Saiful Alam of Mujibnagar Police Station.

Earlier, members of the local Jubo Dal, led by Meherpur District Jubo Dal Joint General Secretary Huzaifa Deklar, along with hundreds of locals, surrounded the house. Huzaifa Deklar said that there was information that Farhad was staying at this house late Monday night.

When the police attempted to enter the house, they were met with resistance, with the occupants stating that the gate would only be opened if the UNO and army personnel were present. The search began after the arrival of UNO Khairul Islam.

However, the former minister was not found, the officials said. OC Saiful Alam confirmed that there is an ongoing case against Farhad under the Anti-Terrorism Act.