As Dastagir, held incommunicado for three weeks, returned home, the hearing of the rule on the habeas-corpus petition at the HC turned infructuous yesterday.

In a predawn raid on May 4, armed men identifying themselves as members of the joint forces picked up Dastagir from his residence at Siddheswari in the capital.

After failing to know his whereabouts, Hasina Gazi, wife of Dastagir, filed a habeas-corpus petition seeking remedy before the HC on May 9. The court issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to produce Dastagir before the court to demonstrate that he is not being held without lawful authority.

During the rule-hearing yesterday, the counsel for Dastagir informed the bench, comprising Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury and Justice M Ataur Rahman Khan, about Dastagir's homecoming.

Deputy Attorney General Golam Mohammad Chowdhury Alal instantly told the court that the question of Dastagir's reported detention as well as his release "does not arise" following the statement made by the petitioner's counsel.

Meanwhile, on May 19, during the period of his disappearance, Dastagir filed an extortion case with Gulshan Police Station against detained Awami League presidium member Kazi Zafrullah.

Advocate Mahbubey Alam appeared for the petitioner, Hasina Gazi.