Family members of Akkas Sikder said he was asked to go to the local DB office by a sub-inspector of Jhalakathi DB and was arrested on arrival there.

Akkas was taken to the Kotwali Police Station, framed in separate cases of murder and smuggling and sent to the local jail on Friday, family members alleged.

Akkas is the Jhalakathi Bureau reporter of the Daily Ajker Barta, a local daily, and the district correspondent of the Daily Bhorer Kagoj and BSS news agency.

When local journalists contacted the officer-in-charge of the police station, he refused to make any comment, saying he acted under the orders of the SP.

SP Sheikh Hemayet Hossain flatly denied the allegation and asked not to drag him into the issue. He, however, said Akkas was accused with the local police station.

Akkas reported a number of allegations of corruption against Superintendent of Police Sheikh Hemayet and former OC of the Kotwali Police Station Moslehuddin.

Following the allegations, a three-member probe body led by Additional Inspector General of Police Fani Bhushan Chowdhury went to Jhalakathi to investigate the allegations on July 29.

Meanwhile, Jhalakathi Press Club, Barisal Reporters Unity and different human rights and civil society organisations condemned the arrest of Akkas and demanded his immediate release.

Deputy Commissioner of DB, Farooq Ahmed, told The Daily Star last night that they knew nothing of the arrest.

"Jhalakathi DB works under the authority of the local SP," he added.