The head Hindu priest of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission in the capital has received a threat on his life.

Mission authorities said a man handed over a letter containing the threat to a mission staff around Wednesday noon.

The letter did not name anyone but mentioned the top preacher of the mission as the recipient.

Syed Nurul Islam, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, last night quoted the letter: “Leave the country while there is time. This is the country for the Muslims. India is for the Hindus.

“Preaching Hindu religion in this country won't be allowed. You will be stabbed to death between June 20 and 30. Eat whatever you want. I will kill you by hacking in your neck. For Ma Kali's [a Hindu goddess] sake, go to India.”

“... I steal lives of the gurus of infidels ... Currently, I have no address. Sometimes I stay in Gazipur, sometimes in Kishoreganj and sometimes in Dhanmondi [of Dhaka].

“Informing police will not help … I am not scared of police and Rab.”

Swami Dhrubeshananda, principal of the mission, said the letter could have been sent by any of the groups responsible for the recent killings in Bangladesh.

He said they filed a general dairy with Wari Police Station over the matter, and added that they were feeling insecure but would continue with their daily activities.

Security has been beefed up in and around the mission, said sources.

Zeahad Hossain, officer-in-charge of Wari Police Station, said they learnt about the incident on Wednesday night.

The hand-written letter has the name and address of the sender, one AB Siddique from Gazipur. But there are possibilities that those are fake, he added.

Contacted, Monirul Islam, additional commissioner of the DMP, yesterday said they had already launched an investigation.

The incident happened amid the ongoing nationwide crackdown on militants launched following some recent targeted killings of people, including those from the religious minority communities.

Started in 1899 by the devotees, and affiliated to Belur Math, West Bengal, India, in 1916, Ramakrishna Mission Dhaka has been engaged in humanitarian, spiritual, educational, socio-cultural, relief and rehabilitation work and medical services since its inception, reads its website.