The arrestee, Nasiruddin alias Naishya, 34, son of late Fayez Ahmad of Joynagar of Padua under the upazila, is a listed criminal.

He had been accused in eight cases on different charges including possession of illegal arms, murder, extortion, abduction and timber smuggling, said Morshedul Karim Mohammad Ishtesham, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rangunia Police Station.

Sources said the police raided a hilly area near Joynagar village of Padua union and arrested him at about 9:30 am.

Earlier, he had been arrested in 2000 but was released on bail after he spent seven months in jail.

Although he did not hold any high position in BNP, he held immense power during the rule of four-party alliance for having close links with former BNP lawmaker SQ Chowdhury, sources said.

Nasiruddin had been on the run since state of emergency was imposed in the country, police said.