Moreover, a militant organisation -- Islami Ain Bastabayon Parishad -- yesterday mailed three leaflets to Dhaka Bar Association asking it to cooperate in establishing Islamic rule in the country. The leaflets were similar to those circulated with the August 17 blasts.

The two incidents triggered panic among people in the judicial arena and they sought security at their houses and offices, and immediate action against those issuing the threats.

The judges who received threats are First Joint District Judge Shamsul Islam, Senior Assistant Judge Kazi Abdul Hannan and Judge Umme Kulsum.

In Chittagong, following Monday's bomb attack on one judge and yesterday's bomb threats to three, the judges are now feeling too insecure. Some them even asked for bullet-proof jackets and stepped up security at and around their residences and offices, sources said.

Court sources said the unknown callers made phone calls to the offices of the three judges between 9:30am and 9:45am.

The callers first asked about the identities of the judges and hung up.

A few minutes later, they again rang the judges and threatened them with bomb attacks on their courtrooms, the sources added.

BDNEWS adds: The higher authorities were immediately informed of the anonymous phone calls.

The judges, officers, employees, lawyers and litigants in Chittagong Court Building were reeling under bomb phobia for the third consecutive day yesterday as security measures were not foolproof.

Many judges and magistrates were found shortening the court proceedings. An assistant judge, who received bomb threats yesterday, had to adjourn hearing on Tuesday for security reasons.

" I took the chair but left the court saying the proceeding could not be held for security reasons," said the judge.

Our Chittagong correspondent reports: The three judges who were threatened yesterday informed the matter to District and Sessions Judge Abdur Rahman Patwary and Metropolitan Sessions Judge Anwar Hossain.

Later, a large contingent of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) led by the deputy commissioner (special branch) reached the court premises. They were put on guard in front of the judges' rooms.

The Chittagong District Bar Association at a protest rally yesterday demanded resignation of the state minister for home for what it said failure to ensure security in the court, BDNEWS added.

The rally held to protest Monday's bomb attacks on three district courts blamed Jamaat-e-Islami, a component of the coalition government, for 'patronising' militant fundamentalist outfit the JMB, which orchestrated the recurrent bomb attacks on courts.

Vice President of the Bar Association Didarul Alam Chowdhury, former general secretary Montosh Barua and advocates Kamaluddin Iftekher Saimul and Jashimuddin, among others, addressed the rally held in front of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.

Terming courts as the last resort of the people for justice, the speakers urged the government to beef up security measures so that judges, magistrates, lawyers and litigants feel secure on court premises, the news agency added.

UNB adds: The judges of the Court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Chittagong at an emergency meeting on Tuesday asked the government to take adequate security measures for courtrooms and precincts.

The meeting was called in the wake of Monday's bomb attacks on the courtrooms in Chittagong, Chandpur and Laxmipur. At least two people were killed and scores injured in the attacks.

Meantime, Supreme Court Registrar M Fazlul Karim told the news agency in Dhaka they have already asked the home secretary and top police officials for adequate security measures for the Supreme Court and all subordinate courts at district level.

Our court correspondent reports: Islami Ain Bastabayon Parishad, a militant organization, yesterday mailed three leaflets, similar to those spread on August 17, to Dhaka Bar Association (DBA), asking lawyers to help establish Islamic rules in the country.

Panic gripped the lawyers and court officials on receiving the leaflets.

"The leaflets were sent to the president, general secretary and office secretary by post at around 10:00am," DBA President Abdus Sabur told The Daily Star yesterday. "The leaflets were written in Bangla and Arabic."

The panicked officials of the DBA immediately informed police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and intelligence agencies.

Security measures have been beefed up in and around the court precincts, and no-one without official purpose was allowed to enter the court premises.

The law enforcers set up check posts at all the entrances to the court and searched all people with metal detectors.

The incident halted regular activities of the court and the crowded courtrooms remained empty after 1:00pm as the news spread.