Faruque's family, friends and lawyers received the ailing NGO chief at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College (BSMMU) where he was receiving treatment in a prison cell under a court order.

A team of the National Security Intelligence (NSI) arrested Faruque from the Supreme Court (SC) on May 22. The government filed 20 cases including one for sedition against him and he was refused bail several times in the cases.

Faruque, however, received bail in the 20 cases, the last on Sunday, from the High Court.

"I feel better now to meet my family and colleagues after over two months," Faruque told The Daily Star after his release.

Terming the cases false and a design to harass him, Faruque said, "Filing 17 cases including one for sedition in the same day clearly shows their apparent intention to harass me and my organisation."

Asked whether he will challenge

the cases, he said, "We'll take initiative to that end after my lawyers Dr Kamal Hossain and Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud return from abroad."

"In fact, I'm anxious over the government move against my organisation and over logging of a huge fund," he said.

When asked about his next move, Faruque said he will shortly begin relief and rescue work among the flood-affected people.

"My organisation works every year for flood-hit people, but this year, it has become impossible due to my confinement and the fund-logging," he said.

In response to a query about his opinion on further harassment, he said the government may file more cases against him. "But I hope wisdom will dawn on the government."