In the wake of mushrooming incidents of violence and bomb explosions, the government has decided to hike up security measures at the Secretariat by using modern electronic surveillance equipment.

A network of close-circuit (CC) television cameras would soon be installed to watch and detect suspicious elements in the Secretariat round the clock under a centrally run surveillance system, State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar told The Daily Star yesterday.

Metal detector gates and CC TV cameras have already been set up at the main entrance to the country's administrative headquarters, besides deployment of extra police personnel, he added. A mirror metal detector is also being used to check the vehicles at the main gate.

Official sources said police with hand-held metal detectors are stationed at all staircases and elevator landings in all buildings on the Secretariat premises, along with security men with such detectors on every floor and armed police alongside the walls.

To ensure security police have closed and locked several additional gates of different buildings and strictly check all the bags carried in by officials, staffs and visitors.

The authorities have also instructed the officials concerned to restrict the number of passes they issue to avoid excessive visitors. They restriction has brought in a deserted look in the Secretariat now a days.

Sources also said police and paramilitary forces have been put on red alert across the capital following the frequent bomb threats on different offices and academic institutions. Babar has instructed intelligence and law enforcing agencies including the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) to launch a meticulous manhunt to nab those involved in the threats, they added.

They said all police stations and intelligence agencies have been directed to maintain a keen eye on academic institutions, specially the

schools, in the city in relation to bomb threats. Additional police forces are stationed in Dhanmondi, the hub of English medium schools, and other areas to avert any untoward incidents.