Sources said although the government was apprehensive about possible suicide attacks it was too engaged in ensuring foolproof security for the Saarc Summit to concentrate on the matter.

Explosive experts in law enforcement agencies rang the alarm bell following the bomb attack on Judge Biplob Goshwami in front of his residence in Sylhet on October 18. After analysing residues from the explosions and the unexploded bomb recovered from the scene the experts warned the government about the possibility of suicide bomb attacks in the future.

The spate of bomb attacks has made the experts believe that the terrorist outfit responsible for the attacks possesses a stockpile of explosives.

Sources quoted from the report that said, "It is a clear alarm for every one that the terrorists have a plan for suicide bomb attacks."

"The terrorists can attack at their desired time with desired devastation as it is evident in preparation of the bombs that they possess the expertise," sources quoted from the report that was submitted to the home ministry on October 20.

Among the three bombs used in the attack on Goshwami, two exploded while one was recovered unexploded. The first exploded bomb was aimed at the judge and the second one was used to make way for escape.

After examining the unexploded bomb the experts apprehended that it had been most likely reserved for committing suicide.

They also found that the unexploded bomb did not have a delay mechanism with an electric detonator, it was 'most likely a suicide weapon', which the attacker, identified as Akhtar Hossain, did not get the opportunity to explode, said the sources.

The report also pointed out that except for electric detonators and power gel (explosive) all other bomb making materials are available on local market.

Detonators used in the Sylhet bomb attack were similar to the ones used in the August 17 countrywide blasts. The type of detonators used in the attacks is usually used for military and industrial (oil exploration, mining etc) purposes and is not available on local market. Experts however could not identify the country of origin of the detonators.

The power gel used in the Sylhet attack was identical to the one used in the bombs that were exploded on court premises in Chittagong, Chandpur and Laxmipur on October 3. The bombs law enforcers recovered from Kishoreganj, Rajshahi, Munshiganj and from the capital's Goran area also carried the same variety of power gel.

Experts observed that the country of origin of this particular type of power gel is 'most likely India' and is used in seismic surveys by mining companies in Bangladesh.

A highly placed source in a law enforcement agency said in the wake of the suicide bomb attack in Jhalakathi on November 14 that killed two judges, the government has now issued a special order to take necessary measures to prevent further attacks by suicide bombers.