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BD to detain listed criminals before Clinton's visit

DHAKA: Bangladeshi authorities will detain or monitor suspected criminals ahead of the planned visit by US President Bill Clinton here later this month, a newspaper here reported on Sunday.

A high-level meeting at the home ministry on Saturday discussed different security arrangements and decided to launch raids to arrest "listed criminals" ahead of the visit on March 20, The Independent reported.

They did not specify who the suspects were and whether there had been any threat from any suspect groups against the visit Ñ the first by an American priesident to Bangladesh.

Some small left-wing parties have criticised Clinton's visit and plan to stage protests against his presence.

The government on Thursday ordered extra security to be deployed in important installations including foreign embassies a day after a small bomb exploded at the hotel where an advance team preparing for Clinton's visit were staying overnight.

A car was damaged and its driver injured when the explosive was hurled at the Sonargoan Hotel Complex by unknown people. Witnesses said the bomb was a crude device made out of a tin box packed with stones.

Police sources said it was suspected the attackers were "politically motivated" by the presence of Clinton's advance team.

"We will make out the final securityy measure after getting the itinerary of Clinton's visit. But prior to that we are taking certain measures to ensure the smooth stay of the US president," police chief AYBI Siddiqui told the private UNB news agency.

Clinton begins a tour of South Asia with a one-day visit to Bangladesh on March 20 before travelling on to neighbouring India. AFP