Dhira, also a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader, was brought to Khulna District Jail from Dhaka at 9:00pm on Wednesday. He was arrested from the CID office at Malibagh in Dhaka on July 5.

Police went on high alert following a tip-off that an attempt might be made to snatch Dhira on Saturday when he will be taken to court.

The Khanjahan Ali Thana OC submitted a petition to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court yesterday, seeking a seven-day remand for the Jamaat leader in the outlaw Shiplu and Sohag murder cases.

Meanwhile, a Shibir cadre gave a judicial confession before the CMM's Court on Wednesday, saying Dhira is the mastermind behind the murder of journalist Belal.

Ekhlasur Rahman, who was arrested from Chitalmari in Bagerhat on Monday, confessed his involvement in the killing and said Iqbal Hossain Shadhin, an outlaw, planted a bomb in the motorcycle of journalist Belal on the night of February 5 as per his instruction.

Ekhlas was the president of Khulna City College unit of Chhatra Shibir in 1998 but he was expelled for his anti-party activities.

Dhira in connivance with some other leaders of the Jammat and Chhatra Shibir plotted the murder as Belal always protested their criminal activities, said OC Iqbal Hossain of Khulna thana quoting Ekhlas.

Khulna thana police also arrested another Shibir cadre, Anwar Hossain, from Hotel Royal Square adjacent to the Jamaat office on Wednesday night in connection with the Belal murder case.