A Dhaka court today placed Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna on a fresh 10-day remand in sedition case.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ataul Haque passed the order after Manna was produced before it on competition of his 10-day remand in another case filed for “trying to instigate revolt by the armed forces”.

Firoz Kabir, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station and also investigation officer of the sedition case, produced Manna before the court with a 10-day remand prayer for him.

The case was filed against BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka and Manna with Gulshan Police Station on March 5.

Manna was arrested on February 24, a day after the leak of his controversial phone conversations with Khoka, now in the US for treatment. The next day Manna was placed a 10-day remand.

In one of the conversations, Manna, also a former organising secretary of the Awami League, was heard talking to Khoka about strengthening the anti-government movement, among other issues.

Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna appeared in a political programme today, ending speculation about his absence from the political scene.

He presided over a rally organised by Ganatantra Mancha, a political alliance that includes Nagorik Oikya, in front of the Jatiya Press Club in support of the ongoing 48-hour blockade called by BNP and its allies.

"I was ill. Actuality I am still ailing and [was] not supposed to join the programme. But in the meantime, the question 'where is Mahmudur Rahman Manna?' was raised. So, I am here," he said at the rally.

"Mahmudur Manna is not a dalal [broker]," Manna said at the rally. Later, he took part in a procession brought out by Nagorik Oikya.

Several newspapers recently reported Manna's absence from politics since October 28, when the ongoing political turmoil started with the violence centring the BNP's rally in Dhaka.

BNP and its allies have since been staging movement against the announcement of election schedule and over polls-time government.

The question was raised when several small parties, including those that have been taking part in the anti-government movement, have announced their participation in the January 7 election.

Police tonight allegedly intervened an “informal meeting” of a group of civil society leaders and political personalities at a house in Uttara of Dhaka.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob arranged the meeting at his residence, house no. 14 in Sector-3, around 7:30pm, reports our staff correspondent.

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Secretary General Maj (retd) Abdul Mannan and Joint Secretary General Mahi B Chowdhury,  Krishak Shramik Janata League President Quader Siddique, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) President Khalequzzaman and Gono Forum leader Advocate Subrata Chowdhury were present among others at the meeting.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob talks to reporters after the incident at his residence in Uttara of Dhaka. Photo: Prabir Das

A Sub-inspector called Shaheb of Uttara West Police Station went to the house twice -- around 8:00pmto 8:30pm -- and asked Rob not to hold any meeting at his place, the JSD leader said.

By 11:00pm all the guests came out of the house and left the place, our staff correspondent present at the spot reports.

Later, around 11:30pm at a press briefing there, Rob strongly condemned the police intervention.

He said the gathering was an “informal one” arranged after Eid.

A police van outside the residence in Uttara of Dhaka. Photo: Prabir Das

However, Mahmudur Rahman Manna said that they went there at the invitation of Rob.

Meanwhile, SI Sirajul Islam, duty officer of the police station, told The Daily Star that he does not know whether any of the police officials went to the house.

A police van was seen outside the house when this report was filed at 11:50pm.