Police flag possible 'extremist plot' targeting parliament, key installations

Targets reportedly include parliament and Shahbagh, alongside other state, security, religious and public sites, and possible armoury targets

Authorities have ordered heightened security across Bangladesh after the Police Headquarters warned that a banned “extremist organisation” could target parliament and other critical installations.

A directive issued on Thursday instructed all police units to tighten vigilance and increase surveillance.

The communication does not name any specific organisation, but refers to the recent arrest of a man identified as Istiaq Ahmed Sami, also known by several aliases including Abu Bakr and Abu Muhammad.

It does not specify when or by which unit the arrest was carried out.

It warns of possible attacks involving explosives, locally made bladed weapons, and firearms, and outlines a range of potential targets including state institutions, personnel and facilities of security agencies, religious sites, entertainment venues, and key public locations such as Shahbagh.

It also suggests that the group may have considered attacks on armouries belonging to different security agencies.

The individuals mentioned in the alert have been described as posing a “very high risk” to national security.

The directive calls for enhanced surveillance, increased monitoring, and strict legal action against suspects where necessary.

Police Headquarters has not publicly confirmed the issuance of the confidential message, though several officers have acknowledged receiving it.

One senior official said such alerts are part of routine preventive security measures based on intelligence inputs.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s intelligence chief said he had not yet received any separate instruction regarding additional security measures in the capital, adding that any response would depend on deeper analysis of intelligence information while existing vigilance remains in place.