Dhaka, Aug 23 (V7N)- Security has been strengthened in the diplomatic areas of Gulshan and Baridhara following threatening emails sent to several foreign embassies in Dhaka.

Deputy Police Commissioner Abu Khair of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Diplomatic Security Division confirmed the development on Sunday.

He said threatening emails had been sent to the Chinese and Russian embassies. However, police believe the messages were fake and intended to create panic.

According to police, the embassies informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the threats in accordance with diplomatic protocol. The ministry subsequently informed the Police Headquarters and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit.

Following the information, law enforcement agencies increased surveillance and security around the diplomatic missions in Gulshan and Baridhara.

"We think it is a scam, a fake," Abu Khair said, adding that no specific incident had occurred in connection with the threats.

He also said that he had not received any formal complaint directly from the embassies. No general diary (GD) or written complaint has so far been filed with the relevant police stations.

Meanwhile, CTTC officials have also visited the embassies and are investigating the matter.

A CTTC official said they spoke with representatives of the embassies on Thursday and found no immediate reason for alarm over the contents of the emails.

CTTC Additional Commissioner Mohammad Shamsul Haque said officers visited the embassies after learning about the incident and that an investigation is underway.

Police sources said several embassies in Bangladesh received similar threatening emails toward the end of last week. Investigators suspect that a group may have sent the messages with the intention of spreading panic.

Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Daud Hossain also confirmed that no embassy had filed a formal complaint at the police station regarding the threats.

Authorities have nevertheless maintained heightened security in the diplomatic zone as the investigation continues.

END/SMA/AJ