It issued a rule on Sunday, asking the relevant government bodies to explain within two weeks why Meghna Alam's arrest under the Special Powers Act of 1974 should not be declared illegal.
The court also questioned the legality of Meghna's 30-day detention under the act.
The home secretary, Inspector General of Police, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of DMP, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah, and Vatara Police Station officer-in-charge have been asked to comply with the rule.
The HC bench, comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Tamanna Rahman Khalidi, passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Meghna's father, Badrul Alam. Meanwhile, a UNB report adds that Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the process of arresting model Meghna Alam was not appropriate on Sunday.
"Although there are specific allegations, the process followed under the Special Powers Act to arrest her was not appropriate. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, the Home Ministry will take proper action in accordance with the law," he said during a press briefing at the Secretariat on recent issues.
In another development, Rezaul Karim Mallick, chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), has been transferred to headquarters.
The decision was disclosed in a notification signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali on Sunday.
The DB came under criticism following Meghna's arrest. However, on April 11, the DMP issued an explanation regarding the incident.
According to the writ petition, Meghna Alam was picked up from her residence at Bashundhara R/A in Dhaka on April 9. The petition challenges the legality of detaining Meghna at Vatara Police Station without a warrant, without giving any reasons, without access to a lawyer, and without being produced before a court for over 24 hours, and then issuing a 30-day detention under the Special Powers Act.
Barrister Sara Hossain presented the arguments as the principal lawyer for the petitioner during the hearing of the petition. On April 10, a Dhaka court ordered Meghna Alam to be kept in jail for 30 days under the Act. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah issued the order following an application by the DB.
The order mentioned that this detention order was issued under Section 2(f) of the Special Powers Act of 1974 to prevent activities deemed harmful to law and order. Later, Meghna Alam was sent to Kashimpur Jail.
bikashju@gmail.com/ talhabinhabib@yahoo.com