"There is apprehension [of further attack] and we are preparing for it," State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar said yesterday.

In the wake of the renewed threat that came along the August 17 serial blasts across the country, the government has put the law enforcement and intelligence agencies on high alert. It has also ordered them to beef up security at diplomatic zones, key-point installations, missionary schools, venues of religious functions, public gatherings and markets.

Security experts say the latest warning will further panic the public, who are yet to recover from the fright of the August 17 explosions that rocked 63 of 64 districts.

According to an intelligence agency report, militants of banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Janajuddha, a faction of the Purba Banglar Communist Party, have buried the hatchet.

The Islamist group has joined hands with the outlawed outfit in the question of existence as many Janajuddha operatives died in 'crossfire' and the government launched countrywide crackdown in February after banning the JMB.

The extremist groups, who cling too hard to opposite ideologies, had decided at a meeting a couple of months ago to cooperate with each other to intimidate the government into leaving them alone and letting them continue their activities, the agency reported.

The government is alarmed at the union of the JMB and Janajuddha. "It is very significant that these two evil forces have united," Babar told reporters yesterday, emerging out of a meeting on law and order.

Mentioning a report of a Bangla daily on the union, Babar said he himself had received reports about this.

Asked whether the government is suspecting a joint attack by the groups, the state minister said, "Yes, there is apprehension. We're never saying that there is no alarm and no-one should say that. There is an alarm and we're taking preparation for that."

The crackdown on three Islamist outfits -- the JMB, Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai-led Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) and Dr Asadullah Al Galib-led Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (Ahab) -- and Abdur Rashid alias Tapan Malitha-led Janajuddha led to the union, the agency reported.

Tapan was enraged and bent on revenge after some of his followers including his younger brother were killed in 'crossfire'. Bangla Bhai was also furious as a number of JMJB men were arrested after he went into hiding last year.

After the arrest of Galib and banning of the JMJB and JMB on February 23 and subsequent arrests of the JMB, JMJB and Ahab men, they planned an attack to frighten the government and show off their strength, according to the agency.

The report however confirmed Janajuddha was not involved in the August 17 explosions and blamed it on the JMB following seizures of leaflets and confession of its activists.

The home ministry in the wake of the report yesterday to beef up security in Dhaka and elsewhere. It ordered the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) to conduct constant raid on slums and criminal dens and asked other agencies to initiate operation to arrest listed criminals.

Babar also asked owners of different markets who are yet to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) to set up the CCTV immediately.

AUGUST 17 PROBE
The government yesterday claimed the progress of probe is satisfactory.

"Besides arresting filed-level operatives, we've arrested some second-grade ones," Babar told reporters.

"In some districts, we've traced the total process -- how the bombing took place and who were involved. We've arrested a good number of people involved in the attack."

Yesterday's meeting was told that the whole syndicate has been tracked. As many as 300 people were arrested in this connection and 203 are now in custody. The arrestees from Satkhira, Kushtia, Tangail and Gazipur have given significant information.

TIGHTENED SECURITY DURING RAMADAN
Over 35 mobile courts will work during the month of Ramadan beginning in the first week of October. More check-posts will be added to existing 100 ones and block-raids will be intensified during the month.

The meeting ordered to observe a month-long 'traffic month' to be launched seven days before the Ramadan to ease traffic congestion in the city.

MOBILE COURT
The ministry asked the mobile courts working across the country to deal out strong punishment to those who will be found guilty second time of food adulteration. It instructed the courts to jail such people.

The mobile courts have so far jailed 33 people, filed 932 cases and collected a fine of Tk 56 lakh in connection with food adulteration until yesterday.

The meeting was also told that the reform to the Pure Food Ordinance is about to be finalised.