DHAKA: Bangladesh has tightened airport security after police warned of a possible attack involving a suspected militant and two former military personnel, authorities said on Monday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said enhanced measures have been put in place at the country's eight airports, including three international terminals, following an alert from police headquarters.

"We have received a letter from the police headquarters asking us to strengthen security," CAAB chairman Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq told reporters in Dhaka.

"Airports are designated as key point installations and remain under strict security, but this has been further enhanced after receiving the letter," he said.

Bangladesh police warned last week that a member of a banned militant group had been in regular contact with two former military personnel.

It said the suspects could launch attacks on key installations, including airports, parliament and places of worship, using "sharp weapons, firearms or explosive devices".

Bangladesh has periodically been targeted by homegrown militant groups inspired by al-Qaeda and the ISIS group.

An attack on a bakery in Dhaka in 2016 killed 22 people, most of them foreigners.

Around the same time, Al-Qaeda-linked militants killed several writers and activists, including Avijit Roy, a US citizen of Bangladeshi origin. Five men were sentenced to death in 2021 for killing the blogger.

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Bangladesh tightens airport security after militant threat