Adviser to BNP chairperson Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah was released on bail yesterday after he spent a night in Joydebpur Police Station in Gazipur in connection with an extortion case.
Hannan was arrested Wednesday night at his Mohakhali DOHS home in the capital just 24 hours after he was released from Narayanganj jail on a three-month interim bail which the High Court gave.
A Gazipur court released Hannan, BNP leader vocal in his support for party chairperson Khaleda Zia, on bail after police produced him before it in connection with the extortion case filed by Morshed Mollah, a union parishad member, with Kapasia Police Station.
Morshed in the case alleged that Hannan demanded Tk 3 lakh from him on March 3, 2006 in exchange for a work order of a cross dam building project.
About 200 lawyers sought bail on his behalf when police produced him before the district court around 12:15pm. Taking permission from the court, Hannan claimed that he is absolutely innocent and the case filed against him is fabricated and baseless. He also sought justice from the court.
His lawyers told the court that a vested quarter is harassing Hannan Shah by filing cases against him one after another. They argued that he was arrested a day after his release just to trouble him.
Judge Md Saiful Islam granted bail against a Tk 5,000 bond.
Hannan Shah did not make any comment before reporters in Gazipur. Later, many reporters gathered at his Mohakhali home in the capital but he did not return home even though he was in the capital.
His personal employee Babul Ahmed told reporters in the afternoon, "Sir [Hannan Shah] returned to the capital and was admitted to a hospital as he is sick." He, however, did not disclose the name of the hospital.
After the promulgation of the state of emergency, Hannan Shah was arrested on May 14, 2007 along with his son Shah Rezaul Hannan, in connection with a land-grabbing case. The same day, a Gazipur court placed them on a five-day remand. They were released on bail on July 22.
He was arrested again on November 7 last year in connection with the violence near the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar where BNP followers had gathered to observe the National Revolution and Solidarity Day.
On January 30 this year, the HC declared Hannan's detention illegal and granted him bail. Fatullah police arrested him again on February 7 at the gate of Narayanganj jail in connection with violating the Emergency Power Rules.
A police sub-inspector had filed a general diary (GD) against him with Fatullah Police Station accusing him of violating Emergency Power Rules as he allegedly attempted to hold a rally on Link Road.
On Sunday, the High Court granted a three-month interim bail to former minister Hannan who had been detained in connection with violating the Emergency Power Rules.
He was released Tuesday and arrested again on Wednesday.