A high official told The Daily Star yesterday that the government deployed uniformed police in force and 100 undercover police teams, each comprising 20 men, in different business hot spots in the old quarter.

A large number of intelligence agents have also been dispatched to Old Dhaka, a matrix of narrow lane and by-lanes, to hunt down criminals and uncover their hideouts.

The plainclothes police teams are keeping a constant watch on markets, businesses hearts and houses of businesspeople.

The move came after fabric trader Shamsul Haq and his son Russell Sheikh were shredded into over 250 pieces after their abduction on Friday in the latest of about two dozen traders' killings in recent months.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar said security was tightened in Old Dhaka and all-out measures were taken to ensure safety of businesspeople.

The government has attached top priority to improvement in law and order, he said, adding criminals would be dealt with an iron hand.

The administration would leave no stone unturned in its hunt for the killers of Shamsul and Russell, he asserted.

High officials largely blamed internal conflict among businesspeople for the fatal attack on businesses and said police were poring over probable links between businesspeople and criminals.

Home ministry officials said Babar held a series of meetings with top officials of the Armed Forces Division Police, the inspector general of police, chief of the newly floated Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and key ministry and intelligence officials yesterday.

They discussed launch of the elite Rapid Action Battalion force, law and order and ways to cut crimes.