Former Jubo Dal central leader and a trader from Karwan Bazar in the capital, Nabi Solaiman, was also sent to a 30-day detention by the same Dhaka court yesterday.

BNP leader Mosharraf and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish leader Shahidul were arrested in the ongoing anti-corruption crackdown. Nineteen other high profile politicians were also arrested in the drive.

The joint forces last night raided several houses in Khilgaon area in search of Sonali Bank CBA leader BM Bakir Hossain who is also a Sramik Dal leader.

The hour-long drive took place at around 10:00pm, but it failed to capture Bakir.

They arrested 14 people in Patuakhali including Jatiya Party's (Ershad) district unit General Secretary Zafar Ullah and a union parishad (UP) chairman Golam Mortaza alias Shukkur Chairman during the 24 hours preceding 2:00am yesterday. Zafar was picked up from his Kazipara residence in the district town around 2:00am yesterday and Golam Mortaza had been arrested from Dumki upazila at 8:00pm on Wednesday.

Besides, the army in Cox's Bazar arrested a listed top criminal and the boss of a smuggling syndicate in Satkhira, Momin Ullah Sarder alias Mohon Commissioner, early yesterday with a stolen private car in his possession. He was drunk when he was arrested. Mohon had been wanted in eight cases including Satkhira based daily Patradoot editor Alauddin murder case.

The police headquarters said police and Rab arrested 1,528 people, seized seven firearms, 11 bullets and three homemade bombs during the 24 hours preceding 6:00am yesterday.

Our correspondent reported from Mymensingh that former state minister for energy and mineral resources AKM Mosharraf Hossain was sent to Mymensingh Central Jail around 11:30am yesterday.

The joint forces arrested the former state minister from his residence on Gangadas Guha Road in the district town on Thursday night. Mosharraf, whose name is on the list of corrupt former ministers, had been compelled to resign from his post in June 2005 following a scandal alleging that he had received a Tk 86 lakh Toyota Land Cruiser Cygnus from the Canadian company, Niko Resources.

Mosharraf, also the president of a BNP district (south) unit, was taken to court at 11:00am in a police van and was subsequently produced before Magistrate Shefali Begum of no 1 cognisance court. Earlier a general diary was filed with Kotwali police station where he was also quizzed by the joint interrogation cell.

His counsel submitted a petition seeking bail for him but the court scheduled the hearing of the petition for Sunday and directed the jail authorities to provide him with division facilities while detained.

Meanwhile, a section of the people distributed sweets in Mosharraf's constituency Mymensingh-5 (Muktagachha) yesterday celebrating his arrest.

MUFTI SHAHIDUL
Police produced Mufti Shahidul Islam before the chief metropolitan magistrate's court of Dhaka with the home ministry's proposal for a 30-day detention for him, our staff correspondent reported.

In the forwarding report police mentioned that Shahidul patronised Islamist militancy endangering the peace and security of the country and tarnishing its image abroad. The report argued that he needs to be detained for 30 days to prevent him from patronising militancy and getting involved in militant activities.

However, defence lawyers sought his bail saying that the allegations against him are baseless.

After hearing both the sides Metropolitan Magistrate Rokan-ud-Doula sent Shahidul to Dhaka Central Jail for a 30-day detention.

Security personnel arrested Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish leader and former lawmaker Mufti Shahidul in Dhaka on Wednesday when the Afghan war veteran, facing allegations of having militant connections, surrendered to Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)-2 following his party's instruction.

Shahidul, also a leader of Islami Oikya Jote (Shaikhul Hadith), was elected a member of parliament (MP) from Narail-2 in a by-election with BNP-led four-party alliance's ticket after Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina had relinquished her claim to the seat.

NABI SOLAIMAN
Magistrate Rokan-ud-Doula sent Nabi Solaiman to a 30-day detention after granting a police petition filed with the home ministry's proposal for detaining him for 30 days in jail.

In the forwarding report placed before the court police mentioned that Nabi Solaiman is an illegal toll collector and involved in criminal activities.

No lawyer, however, appeared before the court to defend him.

OTHER ARRESTS
The joint forces arrested listed criminal Golam Azam, 35, who had been wanted in connection with seven cases including murder and arms cases, from Tejgaon area in the capital early yesterday.

Our staff correspondent reported from Chittagong that the joint forces held six persons yesterday for their reported involvement in different criminal activities there.