Ex-social welfare secretary arrested at Dhaka airport

Police have arrested former social welfare secretary Ismail Hossain from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Friday night.

Ismail, a member of the 11th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration), was detained while trying to travel to the US, said Ershad Ahmed, officer-in-charge of the Airport Police Station.

"He [Ismail] was arrested as a suspect from the airport terminal Friday night under Section 54 of CrPC," the OC said.

As per Section 54, the police and army personnel can make arrests without a arrest warrant.

The OC said airport police sent him to a Dhaka court seeking a seven-day remand. The court granted him two days remand.

He, however, said that they are now verifying if there are any pending cases or allegations against the former secretary.

"If any case is found, he will be arrested in that case," he added.

The government has sent Ismail into forced retirement on October 22.