The decision was taken yesterday at a meeting of the advisory committee on law and order with Law Adviser Mainul Hosein in the chair.

Home Secretary Mohammad Abdul Karim told journalists that the advisory committee took the decision after reviewing the overall law and order situation.

"Five to seven people, including politicians, have applied to the home ministry for police protection," he said at a press briefing.

The meeting, held at the ministry of law, discussed an option for issuing limited arms licence to government officials.

The home secretary said acts of militancy are visible in some parts of the country and the law enforcement agencies are taking "proper steps".

The committee took note of labour unrest in garment factories at Mirpur in the capital and in Narayanganj and Chittagong and requested the commerce ministry to resolve the problems through discussion with the BGMEA and BKMEA.

Taking a further measure, the committee decided to send notice with timeframe for demolishing illegal structures in Mirpur area and the slums around Suhrawardy Hospital.

In the meeting, it was decided that a 500-bed government hospital would be set up at Mirpur after demolishing the illegal structures on the land of Bangladesh Shilpa Rin Sangstha.

Among others, Communications Adviser Major General (retd) MA Matin, Education Adviser Ayub Quadri, the cabinet secretary, the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, IGP, directors-general of BDR, Ansar and Rab and other high officials concerned attended the meeting.