Abdul Hamid, a BNP adherent union council member in Charghat upazila, was caught from his house in the early hours when he returned home after several weeks of hiding.

Rab denied that Hamid was carrying Phensidyl at the time of arrest and said, "We let him go as he possessed a bail from the High Court."

Rab also staged a drama arranging face to face talk between Golam Rabbani, a project implementation officer, and Hamid at their office before the release.

Talking to this correspondent, Major Salauddin, the 2nd in command of local Rab, said the talk was arranged for arbitration so that no further untoward incident occurs.

"Hamid is not so bad as people think," he added.

But sources said Hamid went into hiding after he along with his accomplices fatally injured Rabbani beating him up with hammers on June 18 for his refusal to sanction some 1800 kg government wheat for the work that was never done.

Rabbani has not been attending his office since then following threats on his life by Hamid.

Police have pressed charges against Hamid and his men in a case filed by Rabbani.

The case is now under trial at the district speedy trial court.