Bangladesh tightens bridge security after militant threat

DHAKA: Hundreds of anti-terror soldiers set up a high risk security cordon at a strategic railway bridge in northern Bangladesh to avert an attack by Islamic militants on the colonial-era structure, officials and witnesses said yesterday.

The tough security measures were taken by the military-backed interim government for the protection of the Hardinge bridge after a suspected Islamic militant outfit had threatened to blow it up.
“The threat is held out by the suspected Jadid Al Qaeda group which has also warned that its suicide bombers are ready to carry out the threat any moment,” said district police superintendent Masum Rabbani.

The group also threatened to destroy the Ishurdi train station which regulates traffic on the bridge and monitors the railway network for northern Bangladesh, Rabbani said.

Troops and paramilitary battalion police searched people travelling by boats in the Padma river, which is spanned by the iron bridge built under British rule.

Soldiers were on yesterday also guarding a neighbouring bridge and a 60-watt power station which are located near Ishurdi town, about 310km north of the capital Dhaka.

Authorities were forced to spread the security blanket in the north zone in the overwhelmingly Muslim country after the militants allegedly sent a letter addressed to security forces and detailing their demands.

The militants gave a 10-day deadline to the authorities for the release of their jailed colleagues, arrested during a recent crackdown on extremists.

Non-compliance with the ultimatum would invite violence, said railway divisional manager Amzad Hussein quoting from the alleged letter.

Jadid Al Qaeda was an unfamiliar group until it carried out three almost simultaneous blasts using home made explosives at railway stations in three cities, including Dhaka, earlier this month.
One person was injured in the explosions and police said they found aluminium plates at the scenes with inscriptions condemning the minority Muslim Ahmadiyas sect on account of religious differences. –  DPA