Security was beefed up at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Friday morning after alleged members of militant group Ansar al-Islam sent a bomb threat to the Bangla Academy on Thursday.
As a result of the threat, two ministers on Friday issued messages saying they would not visit the fair as planned.
Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin had been scheduled to attend unveil book unveiling programs at the fair.
Ramana Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Shahidullah told the media: “Security has been strengthened at the book fair. The Counter Terrorism Unit is working on the matter seriously. There is no reason to fear. Writers and readers can come to the fair without fear.”
Earlier in the morning, dog squads were deployed to inspect the book fair premises.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneSheikh Walid Faiz, senior information officer of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, said: “Due to unavoidable reasons, the book unveiling program of Minister Obaidul Quader at Friday's book fair has been postponed.”
Dipankar Bar, senior information officer of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, made a similar announcement on Md Shahab Uddin's program.
On Thursday, an individual claiming to be from banned militant organization Ansar al-Islam sent a letter threatening to attack the Amar Ekushe book fair.
The letter was sent to poet Muhammad Nurul Huda, the director general of Bangla Academy.
Later, Jahangir Alam, security officer of Bangla Academy, filed a general diary with Shahbag police station over the bomb threat.
