Dhaka, Dec. 7 -- The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has detained Shaukat Mahmood, the secretary general of the newly formed Janata Party Bangladesh.

Shaukat, also a former president of the National Press Club, was taken to the DB office from Malibagh on Sunday afternoon, according to the unit's chief Shafiqul Islam.

"We are speaking with him," he said.

Asked about the charges against Shaukat, Shafiqul said: "There is a case against him. We are checking the details."He said further details would be released later.

Shaukat was named secretary general of the newly formed Janata Party Bangladesh on Apr 25. Veteran film actor and road safety campaigner Ilias Kanchan is the party's chairman.

He had previously served as ...