Communist Party of Bangladesh leader Sajedul Huq Rubel was released 18 hours after police detained him allegedly for his involvement in organising a labour movement.

Police picked him up around 10:30pm on Monday from his Senpara residence in Dhaka. But the Kafrul police initially declined it. He was released around 4:30pm yesterday, said Ali Kawsar Mamun, president of CPB Ward-14.

Sajedul was spearheading a labour movement of workers of "4 You Clothing Limited" and "Fashion 2000 Limited" in Senpara for several days, to increase their benefits, he said. The workers were staging sit-in in front of the factory from Sunday.

Workers of different factories alleged that local ruling party activists barred many garments workers from joining the protest. They chased away workers at different alleys of Mirpur-14 and also threw brickbats at them.

Kafrul Police Inspector (Operation) Jahanur Ali said the chase counter chase took place between groups of workers and there was are no involvement of activists of any political party. Meanwhile, OC Hafijur Rahman yesterday said they detained Sajedul for questioning on Monday night. "We have released him after quizzing."

CPB yesterday rallied at Purana Paltan protesting the detention of Sajedul, who is the immediate past general secretary of its Dhaka unit.