DHAKA, May 2: The government of Bangladesh beefed up security across the country after explosions at Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet railway stations within half an hour on Tuesday.

Messages found near the explosion sites said Jadid Al Qaeda Bangladesh was responsible for the blasts and warned people working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Ahmadiiyya community.

The closely timed explosions sparked panic at the three stations where security personnel looked for clues and evidences.Additional security personnel have been deployed at key installations, most of the railway and bus stations, launch terminals, offices of major NGOs, and Ahmadi institutions across the country.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has set up 224 checkpoints in different parts of the city, officials said. “We are seriously working to unearth the motive and to find the people behind the blasts,” said inspector general of police Noor Mohammad.

Vested quarters are trying to destabilise law and order, he said.

Police Commissioner Naeem Ahmed said they were trying to find out if the banned Islamist outfit, Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh, had assumed a new name or some other militant organisations were involved. “The militants carried out the attacks to prove that they are still active,” he said.