Journalist Shawkat Mahmud held

Days into the arrest of Faridpur journalist Probir Sikdar, police today detained journalist Shawkat Mahmud from a programme in Dhaka.

Muntasirul Islam, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed this and said he was arrested in a Jatrabari arson case.

“He is a charge sheet accused in an arson case filed on January 28 this year over torching a bus in Jatrabari,” Muntasirul Islam said.

Detectives picked up Shawkat Mahmud from a programme of Adarsha Dhaka Andolon, a body that campaigned for BNP candidates during Dhaka mayor polls, from panthapath around 11:30am.

Police barred the activists near Samarai Convention Centre denying them to stage the programme. After a brief altercation, journalist Shawkat Mahmud was picked up.

“The government is not allowing non-political organisations to arrange programmes. This is totally undemocratic,” said Prof

Days into the arrest of Faridpur journalist Probir Sikdar, police today detained journalist Shawkat Mahmud from a programme in Dhaka.

Muntasirul Islam, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed this and said he was arrested in a Jatrabari arson case.

“He is a charge sheet accused in an arson case filed on January 28 this year over torching a bus in Jatrabari,” Muntasirul Islam said.

Detectives picked up Shawkat Mahmud from a programme of Adarsha Dhaka Andolon, a body that campaigned for BNP candidates during Dhaka mayor polls, from panthapath around 11:30am.

Police barred the activists near Samarai Convention Centre denying them to stage the programme. After a brief altercation, journalist Shawkat Mahmud was picked up.

“The government is not allowing non-political organisations to arrange programmes. This is totally undemocratic,” said Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, convener of the platform.

Kalabagan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Iqbal told reporters that the programme was not allowed as the Samarai Convention Authorities cancelled the programme.

Contacted, a staff of the convention centre sought anonymity to tell The Daily Star that Kolabagan police last night directed the centre’s authorities to reject the reservation of the programme.

Emajuddin Ahmed, convener of the platform.

Kalabagan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Iqbal told reporters that the programme was not allowed as the Samarai Convention Authorities cancelled the programme.

Contacted, a staff of the convention centre sought anonymity to tell The Daily Star that Kolabagan police last night directed the centre’s authorities to reject the reservation of the programme.