Dhaka: A letter, containing death threats to 21 people,   has been sent to Natore Press Club apparently by the banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team, says police.

The letter threatened to kill 21 persons, including state minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, two lawmakers from Natore, and central Juba Mahila League joint secretary Kohale Kuddus Mukti.

Local lawmakers Shafiqul Islam Shimul and Abul Kalam Azad, Natore Sadar Upazila chairman Shoriful Islam Ramzan; and other local leaders of Awami League, Juba League and Chhatra League of Natore are also among the death threat recipients.

Natore Press Club general secretary Dulal Sarkar said the letter came by post on Thursday morning.

It was said in the letter that Ansarullah Bangla Team-11 would start its mission in Rajshahi region from Natore, and this was a primary list of 21 people against whom it would take fatal action.

Police, however, could not confirm whether the letter was indeed from the militant organisation, with some security officials saying that it might have been sent only to create panic.

Contacted, Juba Mahila League leader Kohale Kuddus Mukti, also the daughter of Natore-4 constituency lawmaker and Natore District Awami League president Professor Abdul Kuddus, said, ‘I’m not particularly concerned about the said letter. But the issue should be properly investigated.’

She also suggested that Jamaat-e-Islami or its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir might be behind this letter.

Natore district police additional superintendent Munshi Shahab Uddin said an investigation has been launched in this regard.