Security stepped up at 8 airports amid militant threat

Police Headquarters had previously announced a threat to important national installations

Security has heightened at all airports across Bangladesh, including Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport, in the wake of a warning from Police Headquarters regarding a possible militant attack on important national installations.

"Following the letter from the police headquarters, the highest security alert has been issued at eight airports in the country. The airports are always under proper security. After receiving the letter from police headquarters, it has been stepped up. This is part of our regular work," said Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) at a meeting with the media on Monday.

On Thursday, Police Headquarters issued a letter warning that members of a banned extremist organisation may attack important national institutions, including the parliament building.

The letter did not name any specific extremist organisation, but it said that a member of the organisation – Ishtiaq Ahmed Sami aka Abu Bakr aka Abu Mohammad – had been arrested recently.