Police have been kept alert as both local and international terrorist outfits have issued threats to carry out attacks.

All police units have directed to adopt additional security measures and to hike monitoring on those deemed at risk of becoming radicalised.

Additional Commissioner Monirul Islam, who heads Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit has confirmed about the threat.

"Several international terrorist outfits are repeatedly threatened to target the police personnel and conduct attacks. Every member of the police has been asked to take precautionary measure as well as conducting operations to arrest potential attackers. They are also instructed to adopt a personal safety,” he told Bangla Tribune.

However, from now on, there will be an added presence of police, while tighter security measures and controls will be undertaken in Police headquarter, DMP headquarter, diplomatic zone and other important places etc. Police also said there will increase the number of checkpoints.

At the same time, the police said they were working closely with anti-terror structures to keep a close eye on foreign citizens and with known trends towards radicalization.

Police are also seeking deeper collaboration with the public, asking citizens to report any worrying signs immediately.

Security analyst Major General (retd.) AK Mohammad Ali Shikder said, "There is a risk of militant attacks. Some radical Islamic political platforms in the country have been still spreading extremist propaganda. The police and RAB have already foiled plans of more than 40 potential militant attacks after Holey Artisan attack."

After the deadly radical attacks in Sri Lanka, the re-organisation of extremists in Bangladesh has come to the fore once more.

After several threats from militants, there is talk about potential attack on Bangladesh. Though law enforcers have assured that there is no risk, two militants were killed recently in an operation carried out by RAB.

Meanwhile, IS has accepted responsibility for a hand bomb attack on the police in Gulisthan and threats were issued on militant propaganda channels.

On Tuesday, police commissioner, Asaduzzaman Mia, said: “Bangladesh is not outside the periphery of the global impact of extremism; we are trying our best to control anarchy and militancy.”

Saying that militants do not have the power to carry out any act of subversion, he added: “They have been decimated after the Holy Artisan attack; some sporadic attempts were made but were thwarted.”

The police say that the bomb thrown at the police was an Improvised Explosive Device, IED. On the same day in the morning, two militants blew themselves up during a mission by RAB.

Later, RAB deactivated four IED’s from their den.

A police official says that militants have been posting on their propaganda channel which may have triggered the fear of a renewed attack.

On Wednesday, May 1, a message was published from the Al Mursalat media in English, Hindi and Bangla identifying Abu Muhammad Al Bangali as the Khalifa of Bengal. That message also talked about taking revenge on the police force of Bangladesh and India.

Police officials have heard of Abu Muhammad Al Bangali but have no details about him but are confident that militants do not have the capacity to collect materials needed to make bombs.

However, an official of the Counter Terrorism Unit has talked of someone going by the alias Don who is believed to be active in organizing JMB and IS radicals.

Officials who work to prevent militancy say that after 2016, Neo JMB is cornered and almost all their leaders are behind bars. Meanwhile, a leading figure of Ansarullah Bangla team is also a fugitive.

Those who fled to India were arrested by Indian police forces.

Security specialist air commodore (retd) Ishfaq Elahi Chowdhury, says: “We have a sectarian force in the sub-continent which resurfaces from time to time.”

The law enforcers are doing their best but all of us have to be alert, he said and observed: “Security has been ramped up in Glushan, Baridhara and the diplomatic zone but militants always choose soft targets, where security is lax.”

If someone sees anything unusual then that person should call 999; if a member of the family shows a proclivity towards radical ideas then s/he should be given counseling, he observed.

“Security near the border areas should also be increased.”