SC clears way to show detainees as arrestees

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the High Court orders that directed the authorities not to show detained persons arrested or harass them without any specific allegations.

The apex court also directed the HC to dispose of, within four weeks, the rules it had issued earlier asking the authorities concerned to explain why showing detained persons arrested without specific allegations should not be declared illegal.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury passed the order after the state filed separate applications challenging several High Court orders.

Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kajal represented the state, while Senior Advocate Sara Hossain and Advocate Syed Mamun Mahbub appeared for the petitioners.

Earlier, the High Court had ruled that no person could be arrested, detained or otherwise harassed if there was no specific case against them.

Speaking to reporters, Attorney Ggeneral  said the stay means that if an individual is connected to a criminal offence, the investigating officer may apply to have that person shown arrested during the investigation, even if their name does not appear in the first information report.