BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury was released from jail this afternoon, three days after the apex court upheld his bail order in two criminal cases.

Syrul Kabir Khan, an official of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's press wing, confirmed The Daily Star Online of his release. "He was released around 2:00pm."

Shamsher Mobin was being held at Gazipur's Kashimpur jail-2.

Kashimpur prison Jailor Nasir Ahmed told The Daily Star that Shamsher's bail papers reached the jail last night. "After scrutiny, he was released around 1:30pm today."

Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court gave "no order" on two appeals moved by the prosecution challenging the bail given to the BNP leader by the High Court.

Shamsher was implicated in two cases filed over attacking ruling Awami League Netrokona-1 lawmaker Chhabi Biswas and violence near Dhaka Medical College Hospital - both on December 24 last year.

Detectives picked up Shamsher from his Banani home on January 8 this year in connection with the case filed with Shahbagh police for attacking MP Biswas.

HC gave him ad-interim bail in the two cases on May 6, moved by two petitions filed by Shamsher, and sought explanation from the government asking why he should not be given regular bail.