DHAKA: Police arrested Dhaka City Jamaat Ameer Rafiqul Islam Khan from his Mirpur residence on Wednesday noon, just a day after the High Court granted him anticipatory bail.  

Operation Officer of Mirpur Model Thana Abu Bakr told banglanews24.com.bd that the Jamaat leader was arrested based on “definite reasons”.

There are several cases against him, he said.   

Rafiqul Islam was whisked away to the Detective Branch headquarters following the arrest, sources said.

In a sharp reaction, ATM Azharul Islam, Acting Secretary-General of the beleaguered Islamic party, said the arrest of the Jamaat leader without any arrest warrant is a “flagrant violation of the rule of law and human rights”.   

He added: “Arresting him the government proved that they are doing politics of vengeance.”

“This is not called democratic attitude,” said the leader of the embattled party, all the top-most leaders of which have also been detained to stand trial on war-crime charges.   

Earlier on Tuesday, the High Court granted anticipatory bail to Rafiqul Islam in six separate cases, giving him immunity until the filing of police reports.
 
At the same time, the HC issued a rule upon the government to explain within four weeks why he should not be granted regular bail.

An HC bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice Md Fazlur Rahman came up with the order as the Jamaat city chief appeared in person before the court with bail prayers.

Three cases were filed with Paltan thana and one each with Motijheel thana, Kafrul thana and the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on different dates in June and July for obstructing police duties, instigating garment workers into vandalizing vehicles and hurting religious sentiment.

BDST: 1520 HRS, AUGUST 25, 2010