Additional measures have been taken in and around the capital to prevent any attack and to ensure security while the administration in some districts has asked the law enforcement agencies to be alert to thwart any such attacks.

The police headquarters earlier alerted the police forces in all the districts after militant kingpin Mufti Hannan was arrested on October 1.

"We have directed our men to be alert to the maximum and to take all necessary actions against any attempt of criminal activities," Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner SM Mizanur Rahman told The Daily Star yesterday.

"DMP has deployed additional forces in all major installations in the capital," he added.

Supreme Court and lower courts, airport, bus and launch terminals, railway stations, shopping centres, commercial buildings, banks, mosques, foreign missions and other sensitive places in Dhaka have been placed under special surveillance.

The DMP commissioner said people should also remain alert about any person or object that raise suspicion and help the law enforcement agencies by dialling 999.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has also deployed additional forces in all the districts as part of the heightened security.

"We have already deployed forces in all the districts ahead of Durga Puja. They have been given fresh instructions to be alert amid today's blasts," Rab Director General Aziz Sarkar told The Daily Star yesterday.

Both uniformed and plainclothes members of the Detective Branch (DB) have been deployed in the sensitive points in the capital. "Our teams are keeping vigil," said Shafiqul Islam, assistant deputy commissioner of DB.

The security at Zia International Airport (ZIA) has also been beefed up. "We have alerted all our security personnel and instructed them to be more watchful," Azad Zahirul Islam, chief security officer of ZIA, told The Daily Star last night.

GAIBANDHA
The police declared a 'red alert' in Gaibandha town and adjacent areas after the superintendent of police (SP) of the district yesterday received an anonymous phone call threatening bomb attacks on important establishments.

The caller said a bomb was planted in the Boali Qaumi Madrasa, one and a half kilometre off Gaibandha town. SP Bhanu Lal Das along with his force rushed to the spot and encircled the madrasa. However, no bomb was found at the spot.

The SP told the press that the police have received letters claiming that bombs have been planted in different establishments but none of the claims proved true.

He said additional police forces have been deployed in all important establishments of Gaibandha town including the deputy commissioner's office, judge court, public library and municipality office for stricter vigilance.

MYMENSINGH
Panic gripped the students, teachers and parents of Government Bidyamoyee Girls High School and city dwellers following a bomb hoax on the school premises yesterday.

Kotwali police rushed to the spot and recovered a bomb-like pot, which contained nothing but ash. SP Abdullahel Baki later told local journalists that someone might have kept the pot on the school compound to create panic.

KHULNA
Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) has also beefed up security in the divisional city following yesterday's serial blasts in three districts.

Police and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel have been deployed in all key-point installations and several striking forces of KMP have intensified their patrol.

Meantime, army has been deployed at Goalpara Power Station, one of the major installations in the city, fearing attacks.

SIRAJGANJ
The police launched a massive search at the colectorate office, judge court and magistrate court in the town following the fresh serial blasts yesterday.

The law enforcers evacuated everyone from the court premises except the magistrates, lawyers and the court officials and searched the area thoroughly.