He appeared before the High Court to seek bail when the police were in a massive hunt to arrest him for beating up a traffic constable on Manik Mia Avenue in the capital on Wednesday.

After hearing a bail petition filed by Noman, a division bench of the High Court comprising Justice AK Badrul Huq and Justice Fazlur Rahman directed him to surrender before the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, Dhaka, after two weeks.

Granting the anticipatory bail, the court also issued a rule upon the government to show cause as to why the petitioner should not be granted bail in this case.

Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokan and advocate Habibul Islam Bhuiyan moved for the petitioner while Assistant Attorney General Abdul Baset for the government.

Meanwhile, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka yesterday granted a three-day remand for Noman's friend Billal Ahmed after Tejgaon police produced him before court with a prayer for seven days' remand.

In the remand prayer, the investigation officer (IO) of the case said on the day of the incident Noman, Billal and five to six others beat up traffic constable Abdul Majid after he stopped the car for defying the red signal.

Tejgaon police arrested Billal from their Asad Gate house early yesterday.