The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court Thursday declared illegal the detention of former state minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman Patal, stating that the grounds of action were "vague". A two-member bench, headed by Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman, delivered the judgment upon a habeas-corpus petition filed by Patal's younger brother Harun-or-Rashid.

The court also ordered release of Patal "forthwith", if not wanted by police in any other criminal case.

Despite HC orders, the central BNP leader from Natore cannot come out of jail as he has been implicated in another criminal case, said his counsel, Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon.

Army-led joint forces during its ongoing drive against corruption arrested Patal on May 29 and sent him to jail with a 30-day detention order under the stringent Special Powers Act Later the order of detention was extended by 90 more days.