The judges, many of whom received death threats over telephone in the last couple of days, will also receive security arrangements at their courts as well as residences.

The assurance came when a delegation of district judges met State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar at his office yesterday to seek security, following panic after recent telephone threats and Monday's bomb attacks on Chittagong, Chandpur and Laxmipur courts, which came 47 days after countrywide bombings at different points, including courthouses.

"The state minister has assured us of providing gunmen to all district-level judges and security at their courts and residences," Rezaul Karim Chunnu, secretary general of the Judicial Service Association, told The Daily Star last night.

On security measures for other judges and magistrates, he said, "Since manpower of the police administration is limited, the government has primarily decided to provide gunmen only to district judges. But the minister has assured of special security measures at other courts at the same time."

Opposing the existing judicial system and saying it contradicts the rule of Islam, a group of criminals has targeted courts and distributed leaflets saying judges and lawyers should be killed, Chunnu, also a judge of the Special Court Dhaka Division, said.

"Since we're very much panicked over the prevailing situation, security to all judges has become a must. It must be ensured that they are safe at their houses too," he said, adding that judges across the country are suffering from a deep sense of insecurity.

The state minister told the delegation that the government had already stepped up security at all courts across the country, which has helped improve the situation.

After Monday's attack, the government deployed law enforcers at courthouses to check people, including lawyers and other court-goers, before allowing them in.

A letter seeking security has also been sent to Law Minister Moudud Ahmed.

"The government has already taken necessary security measures," Moudud told BBC Bangla Service yesterday. "Work at all courts went well today. There is no negative information from anywhere today," he added.

However, reports from Chandpur and Laxmipur said the situation there is yet to be normal.

"The situation here has not normalised yet. People are still panicked and only old clients are attending the courts," a lawyer of Chandpur court said.

A Laxmipur lawyer said all except the two main gates are kept closed and panic still remains.

Meantime, Sammilito Ainjibi Samannoy Parishad (SASP) yesterday said communal forces are blasting bombs and grenades to destroy the judiciary of the country as the alliance government failed to establish law and order.

"Some quarters in the government are also supporting such heinous activities, which are pushing the country towards destruction," said a SASP press release.

At an emergency meeting chaired by Barrister M Ameer-Ul-Islam at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) auditorium yesterday, leaders of the legal practitioners' body strongly condemned the bomb attacks on the court premises and judges.

Expressing deep concern over threats on the judges and lawyers over telephone and by letters, the SASP leaders called upon the government to ensure their security.

The meeting was attended among others by SCBA Vice-Chairman Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, General Secretary Enayetur Rahim, Executive Committee Chairman Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Joint Convenor Sahara Khatun, Member Secretary Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Abdul Baset Majumder and former law minister Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru.

Our correspondent from Satkhira reports: Police, intelligence and security agencies deployed at the judges' and magistrates' courts have for the last three days forbidden anyone without official purposes to enter the court premises.

The law enforcers deployed at the entrances of the court premises searched all people with metal detectors. The search delayed activities of the court and the once packed courtrooms were virtually empty after 1:00pm.

Meanwhile, our correspondent from Khulna reported that security measures at the judge's court and the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate were not sufficient enough yesterday as a few policemen conducted their duty in a relaxed mood, even though a sense of insecurity has gripped judges and lawyers of Khulna following Monday's bomb attacks in three districts.

Senior lawyers and officers of Khulna Metropolitan Police met at the chamber of District and Sessions Judge AKM Ishtiaque Hossain on Wednesday to discuss security measures in the courts and took a decision to ensure security in the courts of judges and magistrates.

Mohorars (clerks to lawyers) have been asked to show their identity cards before entering the courts. Besides, police officers have been asked to demolish all unauthorised structures in and outside court compounds.