Journalist Sohel released after being detained by DB

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) released Mizanur Rahman Sohel, online editor of the daily Bhorer Kagoj, early yesterday -- around ten hours after he was picked up from his home. Sohel was detained by DB shortly after 12:00am midnight.

Confirming the matter, DB Chief Mohammad Shafiqul Islam told reporters that Mizanur Rahman Sohel had been working for the event management of an organization.  "He used the organization's pad but put his own mobile number in the section dedicated to the president's contact. We traced the number and brought him in for interrogation," DMP senior cop Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said.

"After speaking to the organization's general secretary, it was confirmed that Sohel is not the president and that the mobile phone number was used mistakenly," the DB chief further said.

Mizanur Rahman Sohel was released at dawn after giving a written undertaking, into the custody of his wife, the DB official stated.

In a Facebook post this morning, Sohel wrote that he was kept in DB custody for nearly "ten and a half hours" despite committing no offence, and that he was finally dropped off at his home with full respect. Mizanur Rahman Sohel wrote on Facebook that around 12:00am last night, five to six DB members picked him up from his home on the pretext that the DB chief wanted to talk with him. At the DB office, Sohel's name was recorded in the detainee register and he was kept in a cell with other detainees after removing his shoes and belt.

Mizanur Rahman Sohel said that Abu Sayeed Piyash, secretary of the organization he was working with, was also detained and remained at the DB office, he added to his Facebook post.