Authorities made the move after going through the report which the commission handed the government on October 2, sources said. Justice Abedin did not ask for security, the government decided on it, they added.

The government is considering deploying plainclothesmen and beefing up security at his residence, the sources said.

"We thought a gunman should be with him round the clock for an indefinite period to ensure his security," Additional Inspector General and chief of Special Branch of Police Abdul Qaiyum said.

"He had police security when he headed the commission. But it was withdrawn after the commission submitted its report and we believed he should still be provided with security," Qaiyum added.

Sources said Justice Abedin sent the gunman back on October 4 when he reported for duty to him at his residence at the Judges' Quarter in Kakrail. He told the gunman that he did not of the new security arrangement. The following day, higher authorities persuaded him to keep the gunman.

Sources at the home ministry said the government thinks his may be in danger after he hinted to the media at the link of a foreign country to the grenade attack on an Awami League rally on Bangabandhu Avenue.

Some in the government are baffled by his obliquely referring to the involvement 'a foreign enemy' in an informal press briefing before submission of the report. They are also questioning on what evidence, information and data has the commission based its inquiry report.