Journalist leader Shawkat Mahmud denied bail again in five arson cases

The Dhaka metropolitan magistrate's court rejected all five bail petitions of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser Shawkat Mahmud in as many arson cases yesterday.

A former president of the Jatiya Press Club, he was arrested in the capital's Panthapath area on August 18 and then shown arrested in at least 24 cases filed in Dhaka.

The five arson cases were lodged with Khilgaon and Mugda police stations between January and March.

Since his arrest, Shawkat has been remanded for at least 10 days in separate cases.