The militants in hand-written letters sent to different offices across Companiganj upazila also said, "Inshallah [god willing] within December 16, the land office, offices of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and AG (accountant general), and the police station in Companiganj will be blown up and all officials and employees will be killed."

Duty officer of Companiganj Police Station Zahurul Islam last night told The Daily Star about the letters containing the threat to bury Law Minister Moudud Ahmed alive within a few days.

He also said name of no organisation or person is mentioned in the letter as issuing the threats.

The law enforcers suspect the letters were from the 'suicide squad' members of banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

As the news of the letter spread, panic through the local administration. Security measures have been stepped up in Companiganj following the receipt of the letters.

Zafar Alam, UNO of Companiganj, yesterday admitted to have received the letter and said the police has been directed to take necessary steps. The higher authorities have also been informed of the matter, reports BDNEWS.

Our staff correspondent from Rajshahi reports: Besides the Rajshahi Central Jail, JMB yesterday threatened to blow up the office of the Deputy Inspector General (prison).

Sources in the jail and police said computer-composed letters sent to DIG (prison), police department and the superintendent of jail yesterday carried the threat

In the letters militants claimed that their militants have been staying somewhere near the central jail and the attack is imminent.

Security measures have been heightened in and around the jail compound. The higher authorities of the prison administration have been informed of the threats.

SUNAMGANJ
Paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) recovered seven packets of explosives, five detonators and five fuses from bordering Ratanpur Baganbari in Chhatak upazila of Sunamganj early yesterday.

BDR officials said a man ran into the Indian territory, leaving behind a bag with explosives and detonators when BDR troops on patrol chased him after he had entered Bangladesh at about 4:00am yesterday.

CONFESSION BY JMB MEMBER
An operative of JMB arrested in city's Uttara on Wednesday confessed to a magistrate yesterday that he blasted a bomb near Zia International Airport on August 17.

Twenty-five-year old Rezaul Karim Raju, who hails from Jamalpur, also admitted that he and seven others took training on how to operate a bomb at a mosque in Moynertek of Uttara a day before the countrywide blasts.

A teacher of Taragachhi Kindergarten in Gazipur, Rezaul said JMB leader Habib had been the trainer while another leader Jahid got him involved in 'jihad', by promising him heaven after death.

Rezaul also told the magistrate that Habib had supplied him with a time bomb in a gift box early in the morning of August 17 at a house in Abdullahpur. Later the same day he blasted the bomb in the airport area while Jahid exploded his bomb at Gulshan-1 intersection.

Metropolitan Magistrate Nani Gopal Biswas recorded the statement under 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

Sources in Detective Branch of police said they arrested Rezaul, following up the provided by Masud, who was arrested on August 22 during a raid to arrest Habib, the man alleged to have been in charge of staging the blasts in Gulshan area.

Meanwhile in Kurigram, police yesterday arrested JMB member Saidur in Kodalkati Bazar of Rajibpur upazila, reports BDNEWS.

Son of Sadu Molla, Saidur hails from remote Char Kharubhaz in the district.

THAKURGAON
The BDR has beefed up security along the Indian border in Thakurgaon, following rumours that seven members of the JMB suicide squad were holed up in the district town with a plan to strike again, reports UNB.

A senior official of BDR's Battalion 20 said the measures have been taken in response to the overall security situation of the district.

The police and other security forces have also stepped up efforts to ensure security in the district reportedly following an intelligence report from the capita, said sources. According to the unconfirmed report, a 10-member suicide squad of JMB had recently been dispatched to Dinajpur.

Seven members of the squad had already entered Thakurgaon, a district police official said, requesting anonymity.

Sources also claimed the JMB squad is likely to strike within a week, but they did not specify the targets.

Acting on the intelligence, police teams have carried out raids on several possible hideouts of JMB men across the districts but to no effect.

Acting OC of Thakurgaon Police Station Mazhar Hossain said police on Tuesday night raided in vain Lakshmipur-Debadangi village under Sadar upazila for three people suspected to have a direct role in the August 17 blasts. Imam Abdul Gafur of Thakurgaon Ahle Hadith Mosque and Rezwan alias Razzak, a student of Ranisangkoil Kuwaity Madrasa, were among the suspects.

Earlier, a bomb-like device was recovered on Tuesday from a paddy field in Singia village under Sadar upazila. The recovery caused panic among the locals. The device, wrapped in red tape and electric wire, has been taken for examination by the army's explosives experts.

Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon Gazi Mizanur Rahman said security had been further tightened on the court premises and other important installations while gunmen were assigned to be with the judges in line with government directives.