Security has been heightened at all eight airports in the country, including three international airports, following a threat of extremist attacks.

‘Following the issuance of a Police Headquarters letter regarding a security alert, we have given verbal instructions to maintain the highest level of security at all eight airports across the country. Tight security measures are always in place, and additional measures have now been taken as part of routine protocol,’ Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq told New Age on Monday.

He said that he had asked the CAAB member for security affairs to convey the instructions verbally to all airports.

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport executive director Raghib Samad said that they had yet to receive any official letter but had heightened security following the CAAB chairman’s instructions.

Police have strengthened surveillance and security amid threats of attacks by banned extremist organisations on important state establishments, places of worship, recreation centres, and the capital’s Shahbagh intersection.

Possible targets include key state installations such as the Jatiya Sangsad, as well as police and army establishments and their personnel, according to a Police Headquarters letter signed by a deputy inspector general (confidential) on April 23.

The letter said police had received information that two dismissed army personnel had been in regular contact with a recently arrested member of a banned extremist outfit, Ishtiaque Ahmed, also known as Sami and Abu Bakar.

The letter instructed additional inspectors general of the Highway Police, Armed Police Battalion, Industrial Police, Anti-Terrorism Unit, Police Bureau of Investigation, and Criminal Investigation Department to strengthen security at key installations, increase surveillance, and take legal action against the individuals mentioned.

Other recipients of the letter include the additional inspector general of the Special Branch, the rector of the Police Staff College, the additional inspector general of the River Police, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, deputy inspectors general of all ranges, superintendents of police in all districts, and officers-in-charge of all police stations.