Dhaka: Militants are issuing threats against English-language schools in the Bangladesh capital, police said yesterday, after officials earlier linked militants to a mutiny by paramilitary forces last month.

Police said principals of several English-language schools told them they had received threatening letters or phone calls from militants, and parents of students in the schools have been alerted of security concerns.

The letters ask for money to support the militants or treat those wounded in clashes with security forces during the mutiny or other clashes. Authorities have not been specific about the threats but another source involved in the matter said they were directed against students.

"We are aware of the situation and taking every possible measure to face it," said a senior police officer.

Police have stepped up vigilance around all city schools, especially the English-language ones, where students usually come from relatively affluent families.

"I got very scared and picked up my son before classes were over on Thursday," said the father of a 14-year-old boy. "I am talking with other guardians [about whether] we should send children to schools after the weekend," he said.

The February 25-26 mutiny killed nearly 80 people, mostly army officers commanding the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troops, and raised fears of more violence to come.

In recent days, authorities have beefed up security at a number of points in Dhaka.